HOME | DD

Description
A loud shriek broke the fierce gaze between gold and rose pink as, Pitch tore his eyes from the fairy writhing in the chocking grip around her neck. In shock, the Nightmare King almost released the fairy, his brow furrowing as he watched the scene before him play out. Ice blue eyes raised their vision upwards towards the stormed sky, widening in astonishment. Jack's jaw dropped and he pushed himself onto his feet, groaning as his chest started to ache. His gaze darted back and forth as he looked skyward, before he finalised his decision and shot up like a fired arrow, towards Pitch and Toothiana, deciding that the human girl darting about the sky, swinging a giant sword, now upside down...could really take care of herself.

You would have hated to disagree, but you really thought that little bit of help could've done some good. But it wasn't something your mind dwindled on, as your right leg shot forward again and then pulled you down into a tight spin, mimicking a screwdriver. You screamed again, clutching the handle on the sword tightly, not caring when it accidentally cut through the Nightmares that were curious enough to approach their seemingly crazed target. Another jolt of the small joystick, and you were set upright again, before hovering forward and then backwards, and then spinning around three times. It was like a strange airborne salsa; not something you thought you would be doing over the Christmas holidays.

"Crikey...oopse..." Bunny muttered to himself as he narrowed his eyes, concentrating on controlling the 'flying saucers' taped to your feet before a small buzz of wings notified him of the group of fairies that had come over to observe the situation. Their pink eyes, similar to their Queen's, scanned over the controller and then flickered back over to you and your screeching. They made small tutting noises before removing Bunny's thumbs from the controller; though they made sure he still supported it in the palms of his hand, his other hand reaching for the occasional egg to throw. Gently, they pulled you out of the loop Bunny had left you in, causing you to feel deflated and queasy. But the change of pace was soft and elegant, and the fairies seemed to know exactly what they were doing, carefully keeping the speed at a steady pace till you grew used to it, and managed to bring in your left leg. Soon enough, the controller wasn't even really needed as you adjusted you weight from left to right, swinging North's sword out at any Nightmares daring to approach you. An idea sprung into your mind and you gave a quick glance down at the sleigh almost directly beneath you before calling out, "Send me up into the clouds!"
The fairies exchanged a few looks between each other before nodding and accelerating you in the clouds that covered the sky.

Pitch growled when he turned to the sleigh, furious for having lost sight of you, before throwing a sharp glare over his shoulder at the battered frost spirit and the barely conscious fairy. While you had been shrieking and screaming, they had been fighting till their bodies ached and throbbed, Pitch only gaining a light stitch and a few bruises. But, he knew how unprepared for this they had been. An attack so soon? Why, it was a splendid idea. And the Guardians hadn't even tasted his full power yet. They didn't know of the new contract he'd formed with his fearlings.

After the event on the frozen lake, the Guardians probably believed Pitch to be weak now, physically and emotionally. But, they couldn't be more wrong. Although his servants attacked him and mutinied, the Lord of Nightmares still managed to remain standing and took their beatings without question because he knew why they had turned on him. He had failed. He had shown fear and his humanity had begun to bristle within him. It was this acceptance and understanding that proved him still worthy to be their master. So, they spoke with him, gave him new goals, new powers and a new target. They challenged him to push himself further than ever before and now...now rebellion against him was out of the question. He and his fearlings weren't two single entities anymore, using each other simply to achieve their goals. No. They were one. Pitch had bound himself to the fearlings, as they bound themselves to him. And now the little fairy and the frost boy were about to get a taste of this new power.

"You two...are really pushing it." He muttered, gritting his teeth before throwing out his palms at them both. From his own hands, black sand jetted out towards the two Guardians. Tooth's eyes widened and she quickly grabbed Jack and shoved him down. The wind lost its grip on the frost sprite, and he plummeted down until BANG. He hit the deck of the sleigh with a loud yelp of pain as his wounds throbbed on the impact, a few new bruises joining his battle marks. Tooth on the other hand, was now wrapped tightly in coils of ebony ash-like sand, her arms pinned to her side and her wings' membranes crushed painfully in a vice-like grip. Her violet eyes filled with tears instantly as a shagged gasp escaped her bitten lips.

“Tooth!” Bunnymund yelled, growling furiously as he shot a glare up at Pitch, but his gaze was torn away from the smirking villain as the sleigh ground to a sharp halt. He stumbled across the vehicle as North tumbled backwards into the passenger seats and Jack groaned under the weight of the larger man. Bunnymund glanced over at the reindeer, their reins now grasped in the hands of fearling men that were swarming around the slay, some even riding the Nightmares.

“You bloody little…Jack! Fly up and---“ Bunny trailed off when he glanced over at Jack, in obvious pain after North got up, his bruises throbbing aggressively. “…Never mind….(y/n) is still up there…” He mumbled, furrowing his brow before glancing down at the fairies cowering at his ankles. “Hey…” He crouched down and petted one of them on the head. “Don’t worry about Tooth. She’s one strong woman, ‘kay?”

The fairies nodded, somewhat comforted before North clasped his sword. “No time for chit chat! We must keep going!” He yelled, slicing a nearby fearling. Bunny understood and threw his boomerang and grabbed some egg-bombs. The fairies in the sleigh called for their sisters, of whom shot up in a large swarm. “Let us show them who we are!” North grinned slightly, the thrill swelling inside him as he swung his sword. “We are Guardians!”

“Oh, how sweet…” Pitch cooed, a hand stroking the soft feathers of his captive, who flinched at his touch. “Look at them get all fired up…It’s adorable…Now perhaps…I can deal away with you in peace…Such a shame to eliminate a woman such as yourself, but all is fair in love and war, my dear…” Pitch voice darkened as in his free hand, black sand had gathered and spun into the shape of a grotesque blade, of which sent a fearful shudder through Toothiana’s body. She was scared. Very, very scared. And Pitch could tell. He fed off of that fear as he pulled the blade back, preparing for the blow that would finish the fairy, who looked pleadingly at him with a tearful gaze, when----

“Surprise!”

You burst out of the clouds above him and swung down with the sword held in both hands, aiming straight for the man who looked up with an utterly confounded expression settled on his face. But he reacted quickly, the blade in his hand stretching into the form of a large scythe of his he met with your sword.

“Why you little minx…” Pitch growled, a smirk tugging at his lips, “You’d make such a wonderful fearling~” He added with a purr, pulling the scythe back and swinging it round at you. But you were far too quick, dipping and dodging, zipping this way and that. And all the whole, Pitch was growing more and more agitated as you laughed, taking it as a sort of game. “Stay still, brat. I need you alive!” He yelled eventually, his arms growing tired as his patience wore out. You laughed again before quickly ducking beneath him and slicing at the trail of black sand, leading from him to Toothiana's binds. But before you could assist further, a whip of ebony lashed out, wrapping around your soft neck, choking you as your body jerked backwards into the grasp of the Boogeyman. You wheezed, your face turning an uncomfortable pink as your supply of air was cut off.

“Now see what you made me do…” Pitch sighed, reaching out and gently stroking you cheek, and you felt your transport being ripped off of your feet by the black sand. You winced, trying to flinch away from him, but you were losing strength. Your lungs was crying out for air and you were struggling to remain conscious. “Well…I think it’s time for me to leave the left overs and take my payment~” The Nightmare King chuckled, admiring the state of pain and distress he’d put you in.

“Or you could order dessert?” A voice came from behind, and Pitch turned just in time for Toothiana to land a furious fire of punches. After the tether of sand chaining her to Pitch had been severed, Tooth had wriggled free of the coal black binds, and although her wings throbbed and protested against the movement, she still shot about in the air, gritting her teeth through the pain as Pitch released you to defend himself and strike out blindly at the fairy zipping around him. You fell, and with nothing to hold you in the air, you continued to fall into the abyss of snow beneath, you hair tangling with the wind as you closed your eyes. No more saviours. No more rescues. You could do this.

“Centre…What’s my centre?” You questioned yourself, trying to remain calm. “I’m going to die..” You muttered before wrapping your arms around your chest and mentally crying out. Out to the Northern Star, to the Man in the Moon, to the starlight inside you. Crying out for their guidance. You didn’t notice the Boogeyman cast the fairy away from him and shoot down towards you, or the albino boy that yelled your name and jumped into the air to save you. You only focused on a gleaming light inside you. Your centre.

Meanwhile, the Northern Star was watching in distress as her daughter plummeted to the ground and frantically thought of ways to help her unlock the true power she held inside. So the Northern Star took a deep breath and began to sing her lullaby.

“Star light, star bright
Please grant my wish tonight.
Listen to my prayer and guide me right
Star light, star bright
Did you hear my wish tonight?
Listen to my heart as it calls out to you…”

Your eyes opened as the lullaby rang in your ears and a smile tugged at your lips, as you whispered a gentle, “Thanks…Mum…”

And the light was blinding…