The updates on this site might be slow compared to AO3 uncut versions but there is a possibility that I might stop at one point in this version. Due to the strict rules on this site (and the possibility of people who wanted to report this for reasons or lolz), Flicker as well as Ostara might continue on further on the other site. Still debating on that.

Flicker Chapter 8: At the Edge of the World

Sandy was frantic as he flew down through the grassy tunnel and descended quickly towards the Warren. He had to create a makeshift rocket out of sand and was clinging to it carefully, so he wouldn't fall off. Usually he didn't make such fast moving transportations, but in this case, he had to make an exception. The rocket finally blasted through the opening of the tunnel, sending sand flying in every direction as he entered the Warren. He spotted Jack and the others, allowing him to leap off of his ride, letting it disperse back into golden streams of sand.

Upon hovering closer to his fellow guardians, however, Sandy had to pause and wait for his mind to register the sight before him.

Jack was lying very still on the ground, with his blue sweater back on and Bunny still by his side, the same place where the Pooka had been all day. But the only difference is that North was next to them, holding a large book while reading strange verses which Sandy recognized as Yeti language. There were several burning candles surrounding Jack's body as a single elf stood by the boy's head. The small elfin creature had a scowl on his face and was trying to shove cookies into Jack's mouth while ringing some several tiny bells in his other hand. The poor boy was grimacing throughout the whole ordeal, looking helpless while Bunny had a huge smile on his face while trying to keep his laughter contained. North paused in his reading of…whatever it was, probably one of the Yeti texts when he saw Sandy hovering towards them.

"Sandy! You're back!" He bellowed out cheerfully, closing his book-rather loudly, Sandy noted- as he spread his arms out in a welcoming manner. The dream spirit's face was contorted in confusion as he held his hands out, gesturing to the scene in front of him while a golden question mark appeared above his head.

"We're performing remedies to…pfft…to help with Jack's healing." Bunny explained, trying very hard not to burst into a fit of laughter which is an impossible feat. The Russian man looked over to the Pooka with an offended look.

"What is so funny?" There was a hint of scolding in his tone as he glared at him. This would only cause Bunny to cover his mouth tightly with a paw as soon as he let out a barely contained chortle.

Sandy stared at them blankly for a moment but shook his head and adopted a serious expression. Jack's brow furrowed at the look on the short man's face as he gingerly sat up. He only had that look when he went up against Pitch (and practically handed his ass to him).

"What is it, Sandy?" he asked.

That question caused Bunny to be silent as he and North both looked at Sandy expectantly. He took a deep breath before conjuring up images that were starting to form rapidly above his heads while moving his hands around animatedly, but they changed too fast for any of them to follow.

"Whoa, slow down, Mate! I can't understand you." Bunny pointed out, his eyes were flickering back and forth between each image appearing over the golden yellow hair. The only image that he picked out was a small boy but the rest were vague.

The dream spirit let out a silent sigh before looking at Jack carefully. He knew the only way to explain was to actually use words, however if he does that, Jack would react on impulse. But…what other choice does he have? Everyone watched as Sandy looked down with a very cautious expression before allowing his sand to slowly form into letters.

Jamie is gone.

All of their eyes went wide with shock and Jack was on his feet instantly, ignoring the slight pain in his chest. He stood there frozen as he stared at the golden letters before him, taking them in with horror.

"Gone? You mean…" Bunny breathed out, still processing the new information.

The Wind reacted to Jack's emotion and blew out the candles surrounding them, leaving several trails of smoke behind. Bunny was about to place his paws on Jack's shoulders to force him to lie back down, but Jack suddenly flew forward and landed on his knees before Sandy. He placed both of his hands on the dream spirit's small shoulders and searched his face with a pleading look.

"How long has he been gone? Did you see Flicker?! Did Flicker take him?! Did you see Jamie?!" Jack was desperate, and it showed on how fast he talked. Unfortunately, each answer he had received was in a form of Sandy shaking his head sadly at each question. He let out a shaky gasp as he stared at the ground with wide eyes. He couldn't help but feel numb, his shoulders were shaking and he was taking deep breaths. He could barely register the fact that Sandy's hand upon his arm.

It's all my fault…! Was the only thing that ran through Jack's mind. Flicker took Jamie because of him! And he had been resting this whole time in the Warren without even a slightest clue. He should have checked on Jamie as soon as he woke up. He should have had his Icelings looking after him!

I have to go find him.

He noticed that North was working out a plan as they thought about how to rescue Jamie. "…We'll need to use something to contact Tooth as soon as possible. Sandy and I will take the sleigh and search for Flicker in the air while you can Jack search the ground." Bunny nodded quickly at each statement as North gave out his instructions. The Pooka turned his attention back to Jack and saw him still kneeling before Sandy in devastation while the dream spirit tried to comfort the poor boy.

Damn that bastard Flicker! He not only endangered a child but Jamie of all people, the Last Light, the child who practically saved them! He was going to pay dearly for this…and Jack was still hurt…

Wait a minute…

He suddenly froze when he saw Jack's face turn and locked onto one of his tunnels, his blue eyes were glowing with defiant confidence. He wouldn't…

"NO!" Bunny leaped forward, launching himself at Jack in an attempt to grab hold of him. However, Jack was quicker and dodged the rabbit man's arms before shooting forward on a gust of wind and propelled himself into one of the tunnels. Bunny was instantly racing after him on all fours as he yelled at the boy from behind, "Stop, Jack! Don't go by yourself! That's what Flicker wants!"

The Pooka's body disappeared into the darkness of the tunnel, leaving North and Sandy standing in shock on what happened before them. The Russian was the first to collect his bearings before pulling out one of his snow globes out of his coat pocket and looked down at Sandy.

"We have to act quickly!" he exclaimed. "There is not time to contact Tooth!"

Sand nodded in agreement as North whispered their destination into the globe before tossing it to the ground. A bright swirling portal was opened and the two guardians walked through it, needing to get the much needed equipment.

Jack was hovering in the clouds, looking all around for any sign of that damned fire spirit or Jamie. But all he could see was the harsh rays of the sun gleaming down at him.

Why was it so bright? He thought to himself before shoving it back of his mind. He had no time to think about that, since it wasn't overwhelmingly hot. Right now, he was feeling frantic…and helpless. And since he had hidden all his Icelings, there was no way he could contact any of them for guidance as a way to find Flicker.

Jack let out a huff and spat ice out of his mouth angrily. He didn't know how, but he was going to find Flicker and make the man pay for even laying a finger on Jamie. He would freeze every inch of the continent if he had to.

Jack did a double take when he noticed a small orange ball flutter past his vision. He flew over to it and observed it before grasping it in his fist, causing the flame to go out and leaving behind a black ash in Jack's palm. Surprisingly, it didn't hurt and he didn't suffer any burns.

Flicker had to be close.

Jack looked down to see another ball of fire hovering by and when he flew down towards it and peered past the clouds, he could see a whole trail of glowing fireballs appearing from the East. He knew it was a trap, but all he cared about at the moment was finding Jamie.

He flipped his staff behind him and shot his body like a bullet forward to follow the trail of flames.

Bunny stood on the ground, staring upwards at the sky. His ears were up in the air as his body was on alert, looking very much like a real rabbit despite the large proportion. There wasn't much he could do when Jack disappeared into the clouds as soon as he was out of the tunnel opening. For once, he hated being the only guardian who couldn't fly. There were alternatives but if past experiences have taught him something, it wasn't a good idea at the moment.

Bunny ran through the forest for a while, hoping that he could spot Jack flying above him at some point but the sun was blinding him. He halted in his chase before kicking a tree stump in frustration. He had told himself that he wasn't going to leave Jack's side, and yet here he was…stuck on Earth without a clue as to which direction the winter sprite had gone.

And not only that, he was still injured!

I have to go back and find North, He thought, feeling ashamed of his uselessness.

He tapped his foot onto the ground but as soon as his tunnel opened, a familiar little blue streak flew out of it. Bunny grinned as he saw his ice bird fly down and circle around his head before perching himself on his extended hand.

"Good timing, Little Jay. Ya think ya could help me find Jack?" he asked.

The little creature's glass eyes seemed to gleam as he tweeted out his response.

That was all he needed.

"Alright then!" Bunny then opened up another tunnel and leapt down.

Jack lowered himself slowly to the ground, dodging trees as he entered a forest that he had never seen before. He had been flying and following the fireballs for hours until the trail finally dropped back towards Earth. He looked around as his bare feet made contact to the twigs and grass. Despite the shade from the trees, the sun was still blazing down on him, making him breathe harder from the heat. He cautiously ventured through the foreign woods, with his staff pointing forward in defense.

Was this place close to the equator? In all of his 300 years venturing the world and bringing snow with him, Jack had never seen this place before. Is he still on Earth? He paused in his steps when his feet met hard stone instead of grass. He peered forward to see that the forest was suddenly broken off and engulfed in an area made of rock rather than dirt. The stone was sizzling hot from the sun's rays; Jack had to produce ice from the bottom of his feet in order to cool down the entire clearing as he took a step forward.

It took quite a bit of effort to cool it down, though…geez.

Jack walked into the center then looked around curiously. There are giant grey statues surrounding the area. Each one stood along the edge near the first, creating a circle of bulky stone masses. They were facing the center of the clearing in the exact spot where Jack stood. He flew up closer to one of them and observed it with interest. It towered over him, and the closest height he could compare it to was somewhere around the height of Statue of Liberty, minus the platform. The statue's shape resembled a human despite the lack of facial features and armored covered body of unknown origins, thought the closest thing he could pin down is an odd combination of samurai and Aztec. What he noticed is that every single statue had their hands closed together in front of their missing faces.

It looks like they're praying, Jack thought.

Suddenly the stone soldier shifted with a loud crack. Jack leaped back to the ground in surprise while aiming his staff at the statue. The said statue's chest began glowing bright red markings of some kind appeared and traveled upwards to cover the soldier's smooth face in an intricate manner. Jack looked around quickly to see the other statues had begun glowing as well and their thick arms slowly dropped from their positions of holy prayer. He twirled in a circle, his heart beating frantically as the statues started to step closer to him with loud thuds against the hard stone.

What the Hell are these things?!

"Jackie! You came for me!"

Jack's eyes narrowed when he heard Flicker's voice and he instantly turned around to shoot ice to the spot. But the only thing that froze was the arm of one of the surrounding statues, all of which had halted and were standing in a circle around Jack. Flicker appeared then, jumping up from behind the statue that Jack had frozen. The flaming spirit grinned and observed the ice covered stone.

"Oooh, that wasn't very nice." He playfully scolded.

Jack shot another beam of ice at Flicker but latter dodged it with a backflip and perched onto the head of another statue.

"Where's Jamie?!" he yelled, crouching down in a defensive stance and pointed his staff at the man's head.

Flicker only chuckled as he hopped from the statue's head to its shoulders, relaxing his body while throwing an arm around the bulking neck. The red patterns seemed to shine even brighter against the flame spirit's touch.

"Do you like my new friends?" He asked, giving the statue underneath him a good pat.

A growl escaped from Jack's lips as he shot ice at him again, only hit the statue's face this time as Flicker leaped behind it for cover.

"Where's. Jamie?!" he demanded a second time as his patience was reaching its limit. Flicker appeared again appeared again from behind a statue on the opposite side of the stone clearing and Jack spun around, glaring hard at the flaming man.

"Who? That little boy?" he asked with a false look of innocence. "Why do you need him? You have me, after all." Flicker smiled as he placed a hand to his chest.

Jack was breathing heavily now, trying to keep himself calm but failing. He was clenching his staff so tight, that his knuckles were becoming paler as they shook with rage, storing a large amount of blue energy from within his staff. Flicker leaned over and squint his yellow eyes, scanning Jack's body up and down with interest.

"Has your injury healed already, Jack?" There was a slight purr to his tone.

Jack ignored the question as he pointed his staff at him. "I swear, if you lay one finger on Jamie…"

"You'll what?"

Jack jolted when he heard the voice right behind him. He looked over his shoulder and saw Flicker behind him and whipped back to see that the spot in front of him was bare. When did he…how?! His questions went unanswered when Flicker leaned over and licked the shell of Jack's ear with a strangely hot tongue.

"GAH!" he cried out as he flipped around and released the energy from his staff and shot it at Flicker's chest.

The flame spirit simply placed up a hand up to block the attack and within an instant, the ice melted and evaporated upon contact. Jack's eyes went wide in horror at the revelation. He knew that their respective elements could cancel each other out with given enough juice, but this is nothing compared to the past experience from his encounter with Flicker.

"Wha…"

"What do you think, Jack?" Flicker asked as he held his hands up in pride. "I'm really strong now that my Lord has given me new powers, aren't I?" He grinned up at the sky above them and Jack followed his gaze until he was squinting up at the blazing sun.

The sun…? He thought, his brow furrowing in confusion.

Flicker grinned as he observed his beloved winter sprite. He pushed his arms out and effortlessly caused a huge wave of fire to circle around the clearing, surrounding the entire area in flames. Jack's gaze followed the ring of inferno and a spike of fear arose inside of him. He did not like fire was considered an understatement in this situation.

"Well?" Flicker urged while taking a step towards him. "You didn't answer me."

Jack was jolted out of his thoughts again and leaped away when Flicker appeared only an inch in front of him. The flame spirit took deliberate slow steps towards the latter, making Jack back away cautiously. The brief waltz was quickly ended when his back met one of the statues and the large stone arms immediately grabbed him and lifted him off of his feet. Jack wasted no time flailing in the statue's clutches, kicking his legs wildly. His staff was stuck in between his arms as he tried to loosen the soldier's grip but to no avail.

Flicker beamed at this turn of events and practically leaped closer to Jack, his face only inches away. He froze for a moment to stare back at Flicker with wide eyes.

"Jack, why do you keep struggling?"

For once, Jack could hear honest emotion in the other spirit's words when he asked that question, making him to cease in his struggling. "Can't you see it?" Golden-yellow eyes looked deep into his blue ones as he continued to speak. "We're soul mates! We belong together! We may be opposite, but our powers are meant to balance one another!" His eyes were gleaming like embers and he had a joyful look on his face to the point that it looked disturbing. Jack frowned at this and tried to look away, but Flicker shifted his face to stay in front of the boy's gaze; waiting for an answer.

"So…I'm the reason you've been doing all this?" he finally spoke up. "The only thing you want is me?"

Flicker grinned and nodded. Was Jack finally coming to his senses?

Jack's blue eyes met with Flicker's and he spoke in a low and serious tone.

"Then let Jamie go, he has nothing to do with this."

Flicker frowned but licked his lips and chuckled. "Very well, anything for my lovely ice rose." He stepped backwards from Jack and flicked his wrist, causing the stone soldier to release its hold. Jack fell to his feet and rubbed his arms gingerly before looking at Flicker, placing his guard up. The flaming man lifted a hand and pointed a blazing finger at Jack's direction.

"However…" he chimed. "You have to do something for me, if you want your little friend back."

Jack's eyes narrowed at this.

"Like what?" he asked, even though he's already dreading the answer.

Flicker licked his lips again. "You'll see." He walked forward and placed a foot carefully onto a random spot in the center of the stone clearing. "Do you know about portals, Jack?" He asked as the ground beneath his shoe began glowing bright orange and a circular portal opened up in front of him. It acted very much like one of North's snow globes, only difference it has a mixture of dark red and orange.

Jack braced his bare feet against the ground as he watched the other spirit reach an arm through the glowing opening and pull out a small familiar form. He barely contained a gasp as he lowered his staff, his composure instantly gone.

"Jamie!" He cried out, his voice was breaking with mixed emotions of relief and fear.

Flicker chuckled as he held the young brunet in front of him. There was a cloth around the boy's mouth to keep him quiet and another was binding his arms firmly behind his back. Jamie's body was shaking in fear as tears welled up in his eyes. He let out a muffled cry that sounded like Jack's name. Jack gave him a gentle smile, though his own heart was beating rapidly against his chest.

"It's alright, Jamie, you're going to be ok," he reassured him. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

Jamie's shoulders shuddered with silent sobs but shook his head no. Jack started walking towards him but quickly halted when Flicker held a flaming hand next to Jamie's face. Jamie wince in response and squeezed his eyes shut in fear.

"I need a favor from you first, Jack." Flicker stated in a low tone.

Jack shot him a glare, but didn't make any further movement in order to keep Jamie safe.

"...Fine." he replied. "What is it?"

Flicker grinned widely as the flames on his shoulders grew with excitement. Jack watched when the flame spirit held out his fist and opened it, allowing a red flower to hover from his palm and gently flutter towards him. Jack squinted and observed the little plant curiously as soon as it came close. The flower itself was interesting, somehow resembling a mixture of a small daisy and a cherry blossom. Its petals have a dark red color, reminding him of blood. But what drew his attention was a small flame dancing in the very center of it.

He stared at it for a moment before looking up to Flicker questioningly, at which the latter grinned.

"Eat it." It was a simple instruction, but there was a hint of commanding behind those two words. Jack's brow furrowed, shifting his gaze from Flicker to the floating flower before him. Jamie began struggling in the flame spirit's grip while letting out muffled sobs.

"All I have to do is eat this and you'll let Jamie go?" he asked.

Flicker nodded and played with a lock of Jamie's hair, twirling it around his hot fingers as the strands sizzle against the heat. Jack narrowed his eyes in doubt and picked up the flower up with his fingertips. He observed it as it dangled from his grasp by a petal. It was only a flower when given normal circumstances, but the fact that it was on fire would probably be bad for Jack's health. And a part of him knew that there had to be some sort of magic connected to this plant thanks to his studies with North.

Something would probably happen to him once he ate it.

But I don't have any other choice.

It was Jamie, one of his best friends, on the line. He died saving his sister, and he would do the same for Jamie in a heartbeat. He turned his attention back to Jamie and smiled softly at him. Jamie in turn shaking his head at Jack, knowing that there was something wrong about that flower.

"Don't worry about me, Jamie, I'm a Guardian." He reassured him. "I'm going to be alright, and so are you."

Jamie continued to stare at Jack, he stopped sobbing but there were tears streaming down his face. His eyes were red and puffy as he sniffled underneath his gag which was getting soaked from saliva and tears. That image alone was enough to break Jack's heart. Then Jack's eyes suddenly flicked to a spot behind Jamie's head when he noticed a grey tail shoo past his vision.

Was that…?

Jack quickly tore his eyes away so that Flicker wouldn't notice. He looked back at Jamie and smiled encouragingly at him as he straightened his body and held the flower above his face. Jamie was shaking his head frantically while Flicker leaned over, he could see his face was filled with eagerness and excitement. Jack opened his mouth but paused and took a step forward. He held his other hand out with his staff tucked between his arm and the side of his body.

"I have to be sure that you're going to let Jamie go." He stated, leaving no room for an argument.

Flicker frowned and blew smoke out of his nose in irritation. He pushed Jamie forward so that he would be closer to Jack, but still kept a firm hold on the teen's arms. Jack slowly inched closer, his left hand almost touched Jamie's arm but Flicker immediately yanked him back a bit before growling out impatiently.

"Eat it, Jack!" his tone was rough and clearly didn't want to have his patience tested even further. Jack took a deep breath and exhaled, before closing his eyes and opened his mouth as he released the flower from his fingers. The bright blossom slowly floated into Jack's mouth as Jamie's muffled cries became more frantic until…

"NO!"

Jack's eyes snapped open when he heard Bunny's yell and bit down the flower by the petals just before it fell into his mouth. Flicker spun around in surprise when the Pooka appeared and launched himself onto the stone soldier that stood behind its flaming master. The statue teetered a bit and threw its bulky arms out to try to balance itself, but toppled over anyway with Bunny standing on top of it.

Jack took advantage of Flicker's sudden distraction and grabbed hold of Jamie's arm. He tugged hard and practically ripped the teenager from Flicker's grasp. He wrapped the boy protectively in his arms as he jumped back and leaped into the air. He kicked off of a statue's head to propel himself over the ring of fire but it suddenly grew taller. Jack halted in mid-flight and looked around frantically.

I have to get Jamie out of here.

Flicker was enraged at this turn of events. He yellowed out in anger and the flames on his shoulders expanded, almost igniting his entire body. He reached out to the flames in the clearing, making them grew harsher thanks to his current emotion. How did that damned rabbit found this place?

Bunny was busy fighting off stone soldiers as they all began gathering around him to fend off the intruder. Luckily for him, they were extremely slow due to their massive size and he spun around one of them before kicking it hard in the head. It toppled over, letting off a loud crack and broke some pieces with Bunny standing on its back. He looked up to the air, searching the skies for Jack. Soon, he spotted the winter spirit at the other end of the clearing. He had Jamie wrapped around his arms and was zipping around quickly, trying to find an opening. However, the flames were growing larger in front of him every time he moved towards the edge. Bunny let out a sigh of relief when he noticed the red flower was crushed between Jack's teeth.

Thank goodness, he didn't swallow it.

He had been listening to Jack and Flicker's conversation while hiding behind the trees. He knew something bad would happen if Jack ate that flower. It looked exactly like one of the flowers the Moon had warned them about. Bunny dodged another soldier as it tried to swipe him with a broken arm. He leaped out of the pile of mostly broken statues before noticing Flicker flying towards Jack with his flaming hands extended. He reacted quickly and threw his boomerang, causing it to fly around and strike Flicker in the head with a loud thwack.

The flaming man cried out and fell back to the stone ground. He held his head and looked around the clearing with anger literally igniting in his golden eyes. He let out a wrathful roar, fire escaping from his mouth as a result while the flames around his body grew with each second. As soon as his yellow eyes landed on Bunny, he let out a threatening snarl as he glared at him.

Bunny caught his boomerang as it flew back to him and he beckoned the demon closer with his other hand.

Come on, I dare you to fight me.

Accepting the challenge, Flicker was about to charge at the rabbit, but he looked up in surprise when North's sleigh suddenly appeared in the sky, taking out a few trees as it descended lower. Bunny smiled when he saw North and Sandy both peering over the edge of the sleigh, looking ready to aid him in battle.

Jack flew in closer to the sleigh as the reindeer pulled it over to the stone clearing.

"Fwandy!" He yelled out with the flower was still clenched between his teeth. He threw Jamie into the air with all his might and Sandy stook on the edge of the sleigh with his hands out. Jamie's body flew a bit short, but he managed to get caught in Sandy's dream sand and was pulled into the safety of the sleigh.

Flicker growled as he shook with rage. His plan was completely falling apart…he had to do something.

That is when he noticed the red flower was still stuck between Jack's teeth. He held out his hand towards Jack and curled his fingers, reaching out to the flower with his powers, begging for it to react.

"Swallow!" he screamed out.

Jack's eyes widen in surprise when the flower in his mouth suddenly slipped past his teeth. Somehow the petals started to move on their own and he chocked as it crawled down his throat, forcing its way inside as it caused him to gag on reflex. Bunny saw the whole thing happened from below and was about to leap towards him, if it weren't for the surprise attack from a stone foot slamming hard into his back. He let out a grunt when he felt the said foot force him onto the ground, locking him there with enough pressure to allow him to breathe but cannot move.

Jack cried out in pain as heat erupted throughout his body and probably through his blood stream, before going limp and fell back to earth. His staff slipped out of his hand and it met the ground with a clang as soon as he landed barely on all fours.

Flicker grinned in triumphant, even though it took a lot of his energy as a result. But in the end it was worth it. He staggered forward before willed himself back to his normal strength and sauntered in front of the fallen winter spirit. Jack was on his hands and knees, weakly trying to push himself up as the intense heatwave of fire danced through each of his limbs, and probably in his blood stream.

"Finally…now that wasn't so hard, was it?" he heard Flicker chimed.

He couldn't answer, let alone make a sound, all he could do was to gasp for breath while clawing weakly at his chest and throat to ease the pain but couldn't. Jack looked up at Flicker with hazy eyes as the latter leaned over him with that damnable smile, barely noticing the hand reaching towards him.

However, a golden whip was suddenly wrapped around Flicker's neck before he could even let his hand meet Jack's face. He choked out before catching a sight of the Sandman hovering above him in the air. Sandy glared threateningly at the flame spirit before pulling hard on his whip, sending Flicker flying backwards into the sky and slammed hard against the strong ground by the other side of the clearing. Sandy quickly dropped in front of Jack and quickly examined him with concern. The boy's body was shuddering and he was letting out short, hushed cries of pain while holding his chest.

Sandy reached out and placed a hand on Jack's shoulder to try comforting him, but pulled away as soon as his fingers met the covered shoulder. There was unusual high heat emanating underneath the blue fabric, he tested again by touching Jack's forehead to see he wasn't imagining things and met with horrible realization.

It was no wonder why he was in pain…his entire body had reached to a boiling temperature! Since he's a winter sprite, it might be torture for him. He would hate to see what would happen if here human…

"Sandy!"

The dream spirit turned when he heard Bunny call out his name. The Pooka was still pinned to the ground by three stone soldiers. He was trying to desperately to escape as he clawed at the ground in front of him, trying to pry himself out of their grasp.

"Damn it, get offa me!" Bunny yelled out in frustration.

He had witness Jack swallow the flower and had to hear the boy's faint cries of pain with his sharp pain. He wanted to be back at Jack's side…he needed to help him! He couldn't bear to see Jack more hurt than necessary.

Sandy glanced upwards to see the sleigh still circling above the clearing. He looked back down and his golden-brown eyes narrowed when he saw a few of the statue soldiers divert their attention to Bunny as they walk closer to Jack. Sandy took a protective stance in front of him as he conjured up twin whips from his dream sand.

"Don't let them get to Jack!" he heard Bunny call out to him from behind the soldiers. He didn't need to be told on what to do.

The giant stone statues were thankfully slow but what they lack in speed, they made it up in size and strength. Each time Sandy struck them with a whip, it barely fazed them. They simply teetered back slightly but continued closer with heavy footsteps that let out a thundering sound at each step. Sandy inched closer to Jack, looking around carefully for any kind of weakness as the enemies circled around them.

"OUT OF ZE WAY!"

Sandy heard North call out from above him and ducked out of instinct as the sleigh came dangerously close to the ground, effectively smashed into three of the soldiers and sending them flying back into the forest. The reindeer team flew back upwards and North glanced downwards to observe the damage to the sleigh.

Ah, that's going to leave a dent. The former thief grimaced.

He also noted that the paint job was ruined as well, but that was not important at the moment. North shifted the reigns while still keeping a hold on Jamie with his other arm. The poor teen was sleeping soundly now after Sandy had sprinkled some dream sand into his eyes.

Sandy smiled up at North for his help but he heard Bunny screaming out Jack's name. He whipped around to see a smirking Flicker holding up Jack's limp body by the collar of his sweater. Sandy's eyes widened and he instantly summoned more dream sand in defense.

How did Flicker snuck up on him so easily?

His gaze shifted rapidly from Flicker to Jack, not sure of what move he should make without hurting his friend any more than he was. He was barely healed from his injury back at the Warren. Jack gasped out in pain, weakly clawed at Flicker's burning hand in order to escape but wasn't able to due to the unbearable heat from the inside out. It felt like he had swallowed a furnace, spreading heat throughout his body. The flame spirit pulled him closer so that his lips were close to his ear, feeling the hot breath upon the lobe.

"It's getting a bit crowded," he heard him whisper. "Let's move to some place more private." Jack felt something hot and wet trailing up his cheek, making him shudder in revulsion.

Mmm…oh, yes, Jack is deliciously warm now. Flicker mentally purred with a smile.

Sandy glared at Flicker and shot out a whip towards his head, in an attempt to snap off the other spirit's tongue. However, Flicker's boy disappeared with a cloud of black smoke as soon as the golden whip made contact to him, surrounding the Sandman and obscuring his view. Sandy did a double take as he took in on what he just saw.

Flicker could teleport now?!

His golden brown eyes searched around his surroundings frantically as he conjured his dream sand shifted into a giant oriental fan to blow the spoke away.

I had to find Jack before…

Then he spotted Flicker opening up a glowing red-orange portal at the other side of the clearing and Sandy quickly shot out a stream of dream sand in that direction, pleading that it would slow the flaming man down. The golden sand never made it though, as more stone soldiers staggered with loud thumps between Sandy and Flicker. His sand dispersed when it hit the statue's hard body.

Bunny struggled helplessly underneath the remaining soldiers as he watched Flicker dragged Jack's body with him into the portal. "Jack!" He cried out, reaching a paw towards the boy's limp body. He barely healed up from his last ordeal with Flicker, who knows what would happen if they're alone.

No…I won't let Flicker take him. I won't fail Jack a second time!

Feeling rage fueled him as Bunny twisted in the stone soldier's grasp so that his back was against the ground. Then he brought his large feet above him and kicked upwards hard with all of his strength. The soldier didn't move up very far but it was far enough for Bunny to slip out and race towards on all fours towards the portal, just as Jack's feet disappeared inside of it. He let out a raging roar and powered on through, making it into the portal right before it closed off out of sight.

Sandy stared with wide eyes when he saw the portal disappear, taking both Jack and Bunny with it. He gritted his teeth and was about to take his contained anger out on the statues around him if it not for North beating him to it, ramming his sleigh into the large line of soldiers as it descended and skidded to a stop near the clearing's edge. Sandy hovered over into the back of the sleigh to check on Jamie and found him still asleep. Amazingly, there was not a single scratch on his body.

"Awww!" North let out a groan as he droop his arms dramatically when he saw that the portal was gone.

Once again, they were both too slow as Jack and Bunny threw themselves into yet another dangerous situation. Sandy looked down in sadness, feeling like he let his friends down. Imagine his surprise when he noticed something glimmering on a tree branch nearby. There perched upon a twig at the edge of the forest was Bunny's ice bird, staring at them with clear eyes as it ruffled its feathers.

When Sandy gestured towards it, the little creature flew over and fluttered about into the dream spirit's hands, chirping animatedly as if telling them that they know where they are. Or rather, where Jack was.

Luckily for Sandy, North knew what kind of words he was going to say.

"Ah-ha! We won't be late this time!" he bellowed triumphantly.

He couldn't agree more.