39Possession of Jack Frost (Chapter 8): A Plan is Formed
-Inspiration comes from this picture: art/join-me-jack-352135568 by loonytwin (I WAS GIVEN PERMISSION)
-Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Rise of the Guardians/Guardians of Childhood characters nor will I ever.
~Guardians POV~
The Guardians were at a complete loss of figuring out what to do. Their last attempt at getting Jack failed. They could not believe what they had seen, how could Pitch have gotten such a deep connection with Jack so soon? His nightmare sand was changing him too fast, if they did not save Jack soon. It would be too late!
The Guardians were sitting around the globe room, all of them trying to come up with a plan of getting to Jack.
"What if we snuck up on him when he is out spreading snow?" Tooth suggested, "Thankfully, Jack's love of 'fun time and snowballs' didn't change." Tooth was relieved when they learned that Jack was still playing with the kids and spreading snow. Although, that was when this first started. Jack was still the same even now just…darker. Tainted by a lunatic.
Sandy thought about that idea as well. How could they get Jack to let his guard down though? Ever since joining Pitch he has put up a barrier against them. He hated them. Sandy frowned, why did he hate them? Sure, Pitch's sand would have changed his core to fear and fun but it should not have made him hate them…could it?
Sandy was the first –and only one- to notice Manny shining down on them. Of course! Manny would know the best way to get to Jack; he himself has been trying to contact the Man in Moon about it before the fight happened anyway. Sandy looked up at the other guardians arguing and began signing frantically.
Of course, no one noticed, typical. Sandy signed and looked around. He saw an elf trying to get to the plate of cookies on the table. He smirked and picked up the elf. He sensed a case of DE JA VU as Sandy shook the elf to get the Guardians attention.
They looked up at him as he pointed to the moon high in the sky. North laughed, "Of course! Man in Moon, Sandy why didn't you say anything?" Sandy just sighed…he was used to this.
North spoke up, "Manny. What is news on Jack? How do we save him from Pitch?"
A bright light filled the room; the Guardians looked away before the light began to dim. In its place was a short man, wearing golden slacks with a white shirt and a gold vest over it. A red bowtie snuggled nicely against his neck, a single hair sticking high up on his bald head.
"Guardians," The man spoke, "Pleasure to see you all after so long."
The Guardians stared at him in wonder and amazement. They have not spoken to the Man in the Moon in over 500 years, right before the fall of the dark ages when they were chosen. For him to appear now… "MANNY! It is wonderful to see you old friend!" North shouted out.
Manny smiled, "It is great to see you all again after so long but I'm afraid that this is no social gathering. We must talk about Jack." Manny smile faded from his face, replaced with a look of worry.
"Manny, Jack's core has been changed by Pitch. He is trying to make him just like him. We have figured out that the source of the change originated at his staff but we could not get close enough to him to help. Please, you have to help us!" Tooth was in a state of panic, if Manny came personally then that meant this was much more serious than they originally thought.
"I know, Toothiana. I overheard your plan of getting to him and I agree. It could work, however we must work together. I can create a moonbeam so bright that no nightmares will be able to get to him, however, you only have a two-minute window before my power will drain out."
Bunny spoke up this time with anger laced in his voice, "Manny! Why didn't you try to stop this sooner! Why are you just now coming to us about this? We could have saved Jack before it got to this point!"
"Bunny! How dare you speak to Manny-" North was cut off by Manny.
"Nicholas, Aster is right. I should have come to you sooner; I didn't think it would get this bad." Manny sighed.
"Wait, what do you mean by this bad? Is it not reversible anymore?" Bunny shouted out.
Manny shrugged, "Yes, it is still reversible. For now at least."
"Then, what is wrong?" Tooth asked.
Manny frowned as he looked up at the Guardians, they would not want to hear this but he cannot keep this from them, "Jack doesn't want to leave Pitch."
All the Guardians froze at the statement, what did he mean that Jack did not want to leave? Why would he want to stay with that maniac?
"WHAT! WHY! Why would he possibly want to stay with someone like Pitch? He infected him and kidnapped him!" Bunny was fuming with anger; he did not want to think that Jack was betraying them. After the event at Easter ten years ago, he promised Jack that he would never judge him before learning his side of the story.
"I do not know. I can only sense that Jack is satisfied with where he is. Perhaps the sand is influencing him. We must act now. My powers are draining, Jack will be in Burgess tonight, and that is your chance to act. However Guardians, be warned. Jack may not be the same after this. I only hope that we weren't too late."
Sandy signed, "Wait."
Sandy did not like signing out words, took to long but this was important. He needed everyone to see this. It was broken up but his point got across, "Why does Jack hate us?"
Tooth gasped and Bunny and North looked at him with wide eyes. Sandy assumed that they never noticed Jack's rage.
Manny showed a sad smile and looked down, "I suppose I should tell you that. Though I suppose it is mostly my fault that he feels this way. The sand brought out Jack's hate of you guys that he kept well hidden."
Tooth whispered, "But why?"
Manny looked up at her, "His hate is fueled by his loneliness. He forgave you after becoming a Guardian but the nightmare sand has brought it to the surface. He hates us -all of us- for leaving him alone for so long." Manny spoke out even quieter as his appearance began to fade, "We made a terrible mistake."
Manny faded out leaving the Guardians staring at the floor, regretting everything that they made him go through alone.
If they did not catch Jack tonight and fix their mistake, he would be lost to them forever.
~Jack's POV~
Jack was roaming around the lair looking for Pitch; he did not like to leave without telling the other where he was going. Besides, Pitch preferred it that way anyway.
"Pittttch!" Jack shouted out, as he had no idea where he was. Jack frowned; perhaps he was in the library?
Jack entered the large library that the Boogieman spent a lot of his time in, how he keeps such a big and bright library in the lair Jack will never know. As he suspected, Pitch was sitting in his chair engrossed in a book.
Jack smirked, not every day you get to scare the Boogieman. Walking up to him quietly, Jack snuck up behind him and crouched down below the seat before jumping up into the air.
"BOO!" Jack shouted.
Pitch turned the page and continued reading, "Nice try Jack but you can't scare the Boogieman." Jack pouted as Pitch looked up at him with a smirk. "Good effort though…you're becoming more like me every day." He leaned forward and kissed Jack. Jack smiled and returned it.
"I came to tell you that I was going out tonight."
Pitch frowned and set down his book, "Jack, I don't think that's such a good idea, especially with the Guardians."
"But Pitch! I've been stuck in here for almost 2 weeks, I need to go out and deliver snow!" Jack protested, he loved being here with Pitch but he would go insane if he stayed couped up in here any longer.
Pitch stared at Jack for a long time, his anger showing through the shadows around him as they twisted and shifted until suddenly, they stopped. Pitch let out a long sigh and stared at Jack's bright blue eyes; he could never stay angry with him, "Fine. Only if you take the nightmares with you. They could help you get away if the Guardians show up."
Jack laughed and flew in the air, "YES! Thank you thank you thank you!" He swooped down and kissed Pitch, "You're the best!"
Pitch smiled happily and hugged Jack, "Please be careful, I can't lose you. Not after finally getting you."
Jack laughed and hugged him back, "Don't worry. I'll be as quick as a bunny."
Pitch snarled and then sighed. Jack kissed Pitch one more time before flying out the cave and into the night sky. He smiled widely and floated in the air, he had missed this.
The wind whipped around him fiercely as she greeted her dearest friend. Jack laughed and headed towards the ground, "I missed you too wind."
As he reached the ground, the moon shone brightly down on him. Jack being unaware of the nightmares frantically trying to call out to him. Jack was so happy to be out making snow again that he did not notice four figures silently approach him from behind.
Jack turned just as his staff was snatched away from him. "HEY! GIVE THAT-" Jack fell to the ground unconscious. The Guardians looked over at Bunny who hit Jack in the head with a boomerang.
"What? He was going to try to fight back. Let us hurry and get back to the pole. We can fix frostbite there." The others shook their heads but then nodded as they climbed into the sleigh. "Don't worry Frostbite, well get you back to normal. I promise. Then, we'll make it up to you."
~Pitch's POV~
Pitch was still in the library when he heard the doors open, "Back so soon-" He was interrupted by the neigh of his nightmares.
Pitch stood up and shouted at them, "What happened? I told you to stay with Jack."
As the nightmares told Pitch of what happened, his anger continued to grow until he was furiously destroying his nightmares and anything else that was in his path.
"DAMNIT! I should have gone with him instead!" Pitch shadow traveled out of the lair and stared up at the Man in Moon. "You think you can keep him from me? He belongs to me. He is MINE! You know it as well as I do, he cannot go back to staying with those blasted Guardians. It's already too late."
Pitch reappeared in his lair and summoned all of his remaining nightmares. He was going to plan an all out attack on the workshop.
The Guardians would not take away his happiness. Not ever again.
Author's Note:
Sorry this is a bit late! I am in the final month of my semester and the workload is crazy!
Hope you enjoyed this chapter, the first half was a major writer's block being overcome so it is not my best but it is still doable.
Manny was introduced! If no one has read the books, that is seriously what he looks like. Pretty rediculous really. Anyone have any questions about him or the books feel free to ask!
Also, be on the lookout for a one-shot coming out probably within the week called "If I can't have the father." It is a ROTG/GOC fic.
Please feel free to review, favorite, or follow! Only about four chapters left!