Rising Nightmares - A Rise of the Guardians RP

[Deleted]

נ a c k  ❉  Ғ r o s t

   

    "Kori..." Jack breathed as he saw the sketches, his mind early going blank by the intricacies. His own face, nigh perfect in detail. Bunny, Tooth and all her little fairies... Sandy... His mouth was open slightly, his breathing having increased at that. Yeah, her talent wasn't just in seeing his snowflakes. "How..." He barely was able to get out in a single breath, looking up to Santa for explanation. There had to be one, right? Suddenly, he was quite grateful he was already sitting down. If he'd been floating, Frost would have likely dropped clean from the sky.

    Jack slid his finger along the page that had the bed more obviously drawn, flipping between that and the previous page as he pointed it out to Santa, his eyes wide and his lips finally closing, a bit more seriousness in his eyes than before. He'd started out jovial about this whole interaction... but now? This?

    This made it a Guardian issue. He licked over his dry lips and cleared his throat as he stood with Santa taking the book. It was just as obvious to Ol' Nick as it was to Jack then... Pitch was back. And chances were, he'd have a vengeance. Turning to the window, he uttered a "Got the message, old friend. We're on it."

    "I'm not afraid of Pitch, but we certainly know what his potential is... and now?" Jack took a long breath, spreading his stance a bit as he hooked his staff back over his shoulders, trying to appear nonchalant as he stood at an attention with his head cocked slightly to the side, "I'm going to guess he's not going to underestimate me again, which makes me the prime target to keeping you safe." He gave a reassuring smile to Kori. "Good strategies for a major snowball fight. You remember what I taught you, right? Get to the high point? No place higher than the North Pole."

    At requesting to change, he wiggled his toes almost laughing at himself before gesturing for her to go ahead. He'd wanted nothing more than to simply launch them from the window and up to the sleigh immediately. Unfortunately, not everyone can avoid his nipping cold so easily.

    Upon returning, he slung an arm lazily about Kori's shoulders reassuringly when she moved closer as they were whisked away to Santa's sleigh, already pulling off to the North Pole. Yup. The sleigh was still awesome. As Nick called to his reindeer and Kori gave a laugh, he turned to face her, standing from his seat and almost immediately perching on the side of the sleigh. "You should do that more often you know," He smiled sincerely, "Laugh. It's a good look for you. Much better than the cold expression you were giving me when you lobbed a snowball at my face tonight." He spoke the words just loud enough to be heard over the whipping wind, but not enough to be heard by Santa.

    He kept his staff at the ready though. Jack's voice seemed light-hearted and carefree, but the sharp, icy look in his eyes spoke different words. He was anxious, wound, ready to protect what he cared for. One hand clutched the side of the staff, the other loosely keeping it up against the back of his neck. In one swift motion, he'd have a wonderful ice bat ready to knock any fly ball out of the park. Even more carelessly, he roamed the narrow edge of the sleigh as nonchalant as he could seem to manage, his hair rustling as though he were enjoying every passing breeze.

    Just a quick toss of the orb from Santa and they'd be at the North Pole. His lips curled up with amusement. Was this wonder-girl in for the surprise of her life, he may be able to take his caravan of a winter wonderland with him, but Frost had to admit Nick had a pretty awesome set-up too.





OOC;; Go to bed! Why are you online?

[xxLostChildrenxx]

“You hate them, don’t you?” her mind whispered as she heard the male breathe her name. Like a gust of wind it escaped his lips, and then journeyed outside to the moon as quickly as it had come. The female paused there, looking at Jack with concerned eyes at his thoughts on her sketches. At any moment he could throw them back at her, and shatter whatever hope she had left in their so-called fairytale creatures. North shrugged at Jack upon receiving the question glance. “She’s a bright kid,” he stated simply, his accent heavy but his laughter not hidden. Although concerned, he would not stifle what happiness this girl continued to hold onto. They would need it in the coming hours.

“He was in a dream, long ago,” Kori stated, causing the two to look at her as they rode in North’s sleigh. “We were told about darkness as children. Not to look under our beds. The boogeyman would get us. And when I started drawing beds, I was reminded of those tales. The bogeyman would be out to get us. I don’t know. I guess that frightens me. I’ve never been afraid of the dark. I’ve been afraid of what’s in it,” Kori said, more to herself than the two males in front of her. Santa turned back to his driving in the front, while Kori bunkered down next to Jack in the back. “You should do that more often, you know,” the male said to her as the girl’s smile faded into a confused expression. She flushed slightly, her sideways smile appearing again shyly. “Laugh. It’s a good look on you. Much better than the cold expression you were giving me when you lobbed a snowball at my face tonight,” he laughed.

Kori turned her eyes towards the reindeer in the air. “Sorry. I get lost in thought sometimes. You get used to the loneliness. So, you don’t realize when others are around, even if you can see them. I’m confused, Jack. Everything happening at once, it’s more like a dream,” she paused, looking out over the side of the sleigh to the world below. “I’m going to wake up and find out I’m still alone. I’m still hiding. I’m still surrounded by darkness.” At her last few words Santa turned his head slightly around. “Brace yourself!” he called back, when to Kori’s surprise a bright blue worm hole opened up and sucked them in. She ducked, convinced she was going to die until she felt snow trickling down her head. Looking up the sky she gave a soft sigh of relief. There they were, at the North Pole instantly. “Neat powers,” she muttered as they landed and the elves appeared like flocks of geese. They helped the trio out of the sleigh and went to put the reindeers and sleigh away while the males and the female went inside North’s domain.

Inside the North Pole Palace, Kori stopped in her tracks as she looked around, trying hard to just take in the sheer sight of the world around her. Santa gave her time to wonder in awe at the beautiful home he had created, and didn’t bother her as she walked closer to the globe in the center of the room. He remained silent, folding his bulky arms and simply watched the girl’s child-like fascination with everything going on around her. A snort was heard to the right of the female. As she turned her head, a Yeti came into her view. The scream the girl gave was both loud and high pitched as she dove backwards and crash-landed into Jack. She was shaking visibly by this point, and was desperate to claw her away out of the situation.

North stepped in front of her line of view of the creature, giving a laugh to try to calm her nerves. Either she was going to bolt and go screaming out into the snow, or she was going to be able to be calmed. The Yeti slinked backwards and pressed itself against the wall of the room, to try to lessen her visibility of it. They had both been frightened by each other’s startling moves. North finished his laugh, and gave the girl a playful gentle punch on the arm. Kori, still trembling, left the comfort of Jack’s arms just long enough to peek around Santa’s suit. She still made eye contact with the Yeti, but it had shrunk back and was cowering from her now, so Kori allowed herself to calm down enough to move away from the white haired male behind her. As Santa started showing her the wonders of his palace, Kori turned to Jack with a more embarrassed tint to her face. “Sorry…” she whispered, out of North’s earshot, but didn’t pause long enough to let him answer as North gave a tour.

After the quick and rather enthusiastic tour, Santa brought them to the globe in the center of the room, and he pointed up to the ceiling above. “This,” he stated to Kori, showing her Manny, “is our oldest and wisest friend. The one who chose you, above all else to journey with us to a place no other human has been brought before. He chose Jack Frost to be what we all are --- Guardians.” Kori tilted her head at the word, clearly not understanding Santa’s speech. He chuckled, and waved his hand. In a moment, Yeti’s swarmed them, and did his bidding. Santa nodded for the two to go outside, which they did. Kori stepped closer to Jack Frost as they moved out into the cold snow for warmth, and watched in awe as Northern Lights appeared in the sky, coming from all directions. They shot forward, and left the horizon quickly, clearly a wonder to behold, anywhere in the world that they touched. It wasn’t until North stepped out behind them, that Kori turned to look up at the white bearded man.

“They’re coming,” he stated to Jack, much to Kori’s confusion. Santa ushered them inside, and sat Kori down in a large comfortable chair. “All I ask, little lady, is that for these Guardians you’re about to meet, please just do not harm the fairies you’re about to see. Many of them are small and look a lot like what you know as hummingbirds. Do not swat them out of the air. Believe me, it’s happened. They won’t harm you, just be curious. But, please, no swatting. You’re allowed to tackle the Bunny as much as you want, though,” he laughed, turning away from the two teenagers as noises could be heard from outside the palace. “Ah, that was fast!” The man exclaimed, as he heard buzzing wings. In an instant, there were several other creatures in the room with them. Kori slunk down in her chair, trying to make herself as less noticeable as possible to the sudden strangers, and wasn’t entirely sure what Jack was going to do now that more had shown up.

A large bunny shook Santa’s hand, a thick Australian accent coated with sarcasm as he spoke. A small, hummingbird like fairy, colorful and a beautiful winged pixie that floated around rather sporadically. Then there was a small man, made entirely of sand. Clearly, Kori knew exactly who he was, but she remained hidden and as far away from the group as possible. The lot of them were laughing and joking, until Santa pulled Jack next to him and spoke with the Guardians in a small circle near the globe. It wasn’t until Bunny’s ears flickered and he looked over at the girl who was huddled on the chair that anyone paid any attention to her. “North….what’s that…” he asked, elbowing North’s side to get his attention. Santa turned around to face Kori as well, who was now wide eyed and huddled with her knees to her chest. “A girl?” Santa asked, not fully understanding what the Bunny was asking. “No, like, what’s she doin’ here? Can she see us?” The pixie fairy, thing, approached her next with little hummingbirds around her. “Aw, she’s so cute! She has beautiful hair!” she gushed. “And, look! She’s about the same age as Jack was when he di--” Cutting herself off, she flew backwards to the Guardians again, not really wanting to say the word she had come close to.

Santa stepped forward to introduce the girl, so there was no fear amongst friends. “Guardians, this is Kori. Manny chose her to come here for reasons we have yet to discover. However, we have discovered that she has a knack for drawing all our faces…mine in particular. I’m the most handsome,” he gloated, smiling as he struck a face pose with his oversized belly. Kori gave a half smile, trying to loosen up with so many strange creatures in the room. The fairy approached first, and took the girl’s hand. “HI! I’m Tooth. The tooth fairy!” she exclaimed, clearly excited about this meeting. The bunny hopped forward a few steps next and extended his paw. Kori took is slowly, afraid of what he might do. “Bunnymund, at your service,” he stated, flickering his ears as she took a keen interest in feeling his fur. “North….she’s petting me…” he whined, before returning to Santa’s side. Last to approach was the little round man, short in stature but bright as gold.

Kori knelt down slowly to be at eye level with him, but didn’t speak until he walked right up to her. “I know who you are,” she stated slowly, “You at the Shadow are the same.” His eyes clouded at the statement, but the smile never left his round face. “Sandman, right?” she asked, her eyes turning to Jack more-so for confirmation rather than the little man himself. Above Sandy’s head, two hands appeared and silently clapped, signifying she had guessed right. “You are him are the same, then,” she stated, looking back to Sandy. Not truly knowing the impact of her words, she kneeled there talking to the little man for a few minutes, while Bunny and Santa turned towards the globe to whisper. “How much does she know?” Bunny demanded, to which North shrugged. “Doesn’t seem like lot. She has a notebook full of drawings, but she doesn’t seem to know what they mean.”

Bunny turned back around and hopped next to the girl, pushing her back to the chair behind her. “Let’s talk, mate,” he stated, to which the girl’s eyes widened. Had she done something wrong? Bunny sat next to her chair, and asked her to listen close. It was then that he began to weave the tale, in detail, of the Dark Ages with Pitch Black. Only then did he explain the first time Pitch came back from under his bed was when Jaime had to save the Guardians from certain doom. And now, even know, Pitch was planning another uprising. “It’s only been roughly twenty or so years, which means Pitch must have gotten help regaining his strength so quickly. Last time it took his several decades. We have to be more vigilant and careful,” the Bunny explained, and then explained the fact that they were Guardians, Jack was one of them too, and basically they protected the children of the world. Kori shook her head at the last statement, her eyes fogging for merely a second before she returned to her upbeat stance of fascination in these creatures.

“I’m not a child and I still believe in you,” she stated, to which the fairy squealed with delight. “Which is why it’s so wonderful to have you! Pitch won’t see it coming! We will have the upper advantage!” she stated excitedly. It wasn’t until a few hours later that things began to settle and Jack was alone with Kori, while the other Guardians were huddled around the globe, discussing the near future and how to counter Pitch.

-----------------------------------

OOC; I gave up sleeping to do this post for you because I was excited! Love me forever! @snowfox

[xxLostChildrenxx]

Pitch Black

"I'm not afraid of the dark...I'm afraid of what's in it," a soft chuckling sound echoed from the confines of a long, dark tunnel. A surge of joy cascaded through the body of a shadowy form. The words wrapped around the figure and gave a kiss on the nose, the words the figure loved to hear. In an instant, though, another voice echoed throughout the lonely halls. "I do believe in you....I'm just not afraid of you!" The figure gave a loud hiss, and threw itself back into the shadows, hiding from the pain of rejection and not being believed in. A loud moan was heard before it vanished into the crevices of halls that would never be explored.

The bed shook, creaking and trembling in anticipation of what was to come. Laughter was once again heard, and in the light of the moon, a shadow shot forth from tunnels beneath the rickety bed. A shrill neigh was heard, and the shadow spread through the trees of the forest surrounding the bed. It spread, dispersing against the darkness and teleporting to where it needed to be.

Laughter was heard through the shadowy trees, a deep male’s laughter as it spread across the moonlight, causing Manny to retreat behind blackened clouds. Not to hide, but to divert his attention. To seek help. And help he did seek. Turning to the North Pole, Manny began to shine brightly, twisting himself the best he could, trying to gather the Guardian’s attention. Inside the North Pole, the Guardians were bickering about their plan of action. This left Manny with little way to get their attention. He tried reaching out to Sandy, who usually was very vigilant towards him, since the Sandman was silent himself, but this time the being was extremely distracted by the other Guardians who were now yelling amongst themselves. So, in a last ditch effort, Manny made a gust of wind that slapped Kori upside the head.

Looking around briefly, Kori finally did look up to the open window. “Something’s wrong,” she stated absent mindedly, turning her eyes to Jack who was amongst the Guardians talking, now about her. She knew the creatures would have to decide what to do with her, and how much they actually wanted to share with her, but for right now, they had to decide how to keep her alive. Kori looked up quietly to the Moon, who was flashing moonbeams like an S.O.S. signal. For a few seconds, Kori did nothing, unsure if she should interrupt the fairytale creatures that could very well easily harm her. By the time the girl stood up, and approached the creatures not even yards in front of her, it was already too late. A deep laughter came from somewhere around the room, and Kori froze in her tracks. North, Bunnymund, Tooth, and Sandy froze mid-sentence and turned to locate the source of the sound.

“Oh, how wonderful,” a voice from the darkness hissed, “And here I thought you’d all put up more of a fight to gather. I had hoped it would have been a more pressing matter to corner you all in one location again, but apparently you just don’t learn.” Kori took a step back, her eyes scanning the area for the location of the sound. But it seemed to be just part of the air, the shadows…the night. All at once a shape manifested from the darkness behind her, and a long, tall creature wrapped its cold hands around her, drawing her in. Kori shrieked, but could do little to fight with both arms being held down at her side by the creature’s hug-like stance. “And I see you brought me a victim, how sweet,” the shadow hummed in her ear. North took a step forward, but Sandy held out an arm to stop him from moving more. “Curiously, why is a human here with all of you? And, more interestingly, why can she see all of us?” He demanded, looking to the Guardians as he held the girl.

When he received no answer, the creature let Kori go, but stood beside her, facing down at her. The female remained tense, but didn’t attempt to run as the cold feelings of fear trickled down her neck. The man moved down at her, kneeling in front of her, before tilting her chin up to look at him. “Who are you?” she asked softly, irises almost as eclipsed as his. “I am shadow,” he replied, “the darkness. I am what you fear, what you hate, and what you seek to control. I am Pitch. Pitch Black, but known to you….as….” Kori withdrew himself from his hand, shying back a few tentative steps. “The boogeyman,” she finished for him, to witch Pitch gave the most menacing grin.

“I like her,” he stated, looking back to the Guardians once more. “I should like to keep her. Do you mind?” he asked, his voice almost a tease as Sandy formed a whip with his light, golden sand. Pitch merely chuckled, and disappeared into the Shadows again. “You think you know how to fight me this time,” he swooned in the darkness. “However, you forget a minor detail that I figured out about you,” he stated, reappearing next to Jack long enough to caress the boy’s face. “I know your weaknesses,” he muttered, disappearing again. Kori shrank back towards the Guardians, scanning again as though it would help her locate this darkened creature who had no issue touching and grabbing. “Pitch! Why now?” North demanded, pulling his weapons from his sleeves. Pitch merely laughed, reappearing where Kori had once stood. “You have something I want,” he stated, to which Tooth chimed in.

“You wanted to be believed in, Pitch. And you got that, there are children who believe in you. What more could you--” Pitch chuckled, shaking his head as he appeared to float towards them. “No, my dear fairy of teeth, I seek something far more rewarding. News as spread to me by my--” He paused as a creature sprang forth from the shadows as well, a mare. A ghostly horse-like being with eyes of yellow and obviously a descendant of the shadow realm. Pitch reached up and stroked the mare’s head, causing it to respond with a snort, releasing black smoke from its nostrils. “dear friends,” the man continued. “They informed me that you have found a human who can not only see us, but can determine our moves, our powers, and who seems to have more to her than meets the eye.” He turned his gaze to Kori, who was now pressed up against Jack like he could physically do anything to stop the shadow creature from looking at her. Upon seeing Pitch’s eyes on her, Kori turned and buried her face into Jack’s shoulder. “I will assume this is your miracle?” Pitch questioned, a grin appearing on his lips.

He vanished once move, only the shape of his shadow appearing on the Globe behind the Guardians now. They all spun around upon hearing his voice again. “Remember all those lights flickering off? Well, prepare yourself, Guardians. They will go out once more, but this time,” He chuckled, vanishing completely once more so only his voice could be heard. “They will never relight.” With that, the voice died down and the creepy feeling of his presence vanished. Kori released her grip on Jack and sank to her knees beside him. None of the Guardians flinched at her actions, knowing just how overwhelming it all had to have been. “Now what?” Bunny asked, looking to North as though he had all the answers.

═════════════════

OOC;

No? I don't know what it's like to be cast out?
To not be believed in!
To long for... a family...
All those years in the shadows,
I thought no one else knows what this feels like...
but now I see I was wrong

[Deleted]

נ a c k  ❉  Ғ r o s t

   

    "Getting lost in thought isn't always a bad thing," Frost gave a gentle laugh "Just as long as you come back, right?" He braced himself as he always did when the sleigh bounded through the portal and, eventually, landed. Jack was out in an instant, drifting down to his feet as he offered a hand to Kori in addition to the small anklebiting-elves. 

   As she wheeled away from the hulking Yeti that was just about his business. Jack, grabbing her by the sides of her arms was almost surprised by the quick and, rather, terrified reaction from her, "Easy, easy, they're friends too. They're not going to--" Then he saw the way the Yeti was trying to make itself invisible and was reduced to a fit of giggles. By the time they moved on, he was relying a bit on Kori to keep him up while somehow working out several renditions of "sorry!" between laughter. 

    Frost remained strangely quiet as he simply remained by her side. After all, with so much new, having one solid, steady person in all of this would likely be for the better. Jack moved within her shadow, keeping her close enough that she could feel his presence without seeming to intrude. He gave a scoff at the comment offered by Santa and a roll of his eyes followed. He didn't, however, deny the statement.


As each of the guardians finally made their way to introduce themselves one by one, Jack stepped a bit to the side, including himself among them. Tooth. Bunny. Sandy. Jack gave her a small nod with kind, affirming eyes as Kori looked to him. He took another step closer to the group at the end of Bunny's explanation. They were the Guardians. 



A look of pride crossed his face as she spoke the next words. That determination, that strive to keep the world safe and assist them in every way possible. Once the others began their plotting, Jack moved to seat himself beside her, floating alongside. "How are you holding up?" He offered quietly. Giving a nod towards the plotting Guardians, he handed over a steaming cup that was, stealthily, brought by one of the many yeti's.  "If you're at the Pole, you gotta try the hot chocolate. Best I've ever had."

  "I know you don't feel like this is really your fit or, really, that there's much to do." His eyes drifted to hers, head tilting forward slightly as he regarded her genuinely, "Let me be the first to say that you're wrong when you think you're not needed here. You gave us the first sign that Pitch is moving and, well, that probably saved us from a lot of trouble. So, thanks for that, Kori, really. Thank you. " Icy eyes watched and he placed a hand on her shoulder in reassurance and gratitude. "I'll be back. Enjoy that." He gave a nod to the cup in her hand before stepping into the circle of Guardians to be caught up on the attack plan set in place. 

        The moment the cackle entered the workshop, Jack moved to a protective formation with the other Guardians, staff immediately down and at the ready. Quick eyes attempted to capture the faint, slight movements in every shadow and, only when Pitch appeared behind Kori did he move forward, the fact that she was in their way the only reason Black didn't have an iceball to the face right now.

        He clenched his jaw, knowing that no information was likely the best information to offer. How badly did he want to threaten the man before him. How badly did he wish to insult every aspect he had to fire. And, above all, demand he release Kori from his horrible, devious grasp. Half a growl escaped from him, low, defensive, and dangerous.

Keeping his eye on Kori, he twitched as Pitch shifted away, his heart leaping as he spoke to her. Why weren't the others moving though? Why weren't they attacking? He followed. Reluctantly, yes, but Frost followed. "I'd like you to keep your hands to yourself." Jack growled, barely recognizing the tone of his own voice. At the snap of the whip from Sandy, Jack let the ice ball fly, whipping it hard from the end of his staff only to have it crash to the floor behind as Pitch had moved. 

Flinching and jumping back, letting the breeze of wind pull him between the protective arch of Guardian's, Jack fired off another. He gritted his teeth though. Pitch was right, after all. They were both aware of each other's weaknesses. 

Once taking the place of where Kori stood, Jack drifted forward to her, closing the gap and, preferably, offering her every ounce of safety he could manage. He'd much rather her be behind his line of fire than have to focus keeping it from hitting her. He hooked his staff about her back, his free arm keeping her against him. As she burrowed into his shoulder, it wound its way up and through her hair, pulling her into him while he tried to keep his cool. Calm, however, seemed to elude him. That grin... that smug, stupid, arrogant grin that Pitch used to keep confidence about himself. 

Jack's head only turned, the staff following the trail of the voice. His heart locked. This... this hadn't been what he felt the first time around. No, Jack Frost didn't have a single light on for him before. Now? Now he had several who would romp and play and actually see him in the snow. This was a terror he hadn't felt before and, admittedly, he'd come to rely a bit on those beliefs to keep his powers strong. Without that? He took a sharp breath as Pitch vanished, feeling nearly as exhausted as Kori looked. He had half a mind to drop beside her, instead, standing protectively over her. 

"Now what?"

        "Now..." Jack answered, uncertainty vanishing with that single word, "Now we plan. Now, we defeat Pitch. Again." He looked down to Kori, letting a hand fall to her ginger locks. "You heard what he said. She's our miracle. She's able to determine their moves and powers, right? If Pitch wasn't worried about it, he'd never show his face before he puts his plan into action. He'd want to see if it were true and, well, if that journal of yours is even half of what it appeared to be? It's our best bet at sealing him away." Jack stood tall, tapping his staff into the ground as a flourish of ice spun about in a quickly drawn fractal.

        "This time? Let's do it forever. He'll never show his face again. We'll take care of him alright..." His voice returned to that dangerous tone. "Permanently." This time? Now it was personal. It was one thing to perform the task he was made to do, but individually threaten Kori? Pitch had taken it too far. The image of Pitch's arms coiling about her caused his teeth to grind together once more. Yeah, this time? He'd face a different kind of chilling wrath. 










OOC;; Go sleep~

[xxLostChildrenxx]

“Getting lost in thought isn’t always a bad think. Just as long as you come back, right?” He had stated before everything happened, a quiet promise. Or, maybe, a forward threat. She smiled, even after the Yetis tried to eat her. Either way, this day was rather adventurous. And then, in an instant, everything took a turn for the worst. The hot chocolate she had been drinking had shattered long ago, and whatever confidence in herself she had felt, was gone. Kneeling on the floor, Kori only flinched as she felt Jack’s hand move through her hair. She took a moment to lean against his leg, as though it would help lighten the blow of being attacked by a shadow, but didn’t do much more than accept the events that had unfolded.

Kori remained with her head down, listening to Jack grow more icy cold than he had before. “This time? Let’s do it forever. He’ll never show his face again. We’ll take care of him alright….Permanently.” He stated, his voice as hostile and cold as the air around him. Kori tilted her face up slightly, looking over to his pant leg that was next to her. He truly felt as cold as the air around him. Pushing herself to her feet, the female leaned against the boy slightly to keep herself upright. “Your ice won’t be enough,” she muttered, wrapping her arms around herself protectively. “How would you know?” Bunny demanded, crossing his arms as well. Kori tensed at the sound of another Guardian’s voice. She truly didn’t trust any creature now that she met Pitch. All of this was just too odd.

“He’s a shadow. You can’t kill a shadow easily,” she returned, looking to North now. Santa stroked his beard for a moment, before his eye turned to globe in front of them. He watched in horror as a few of the twinkling lights before them snuffed out. “Already?!” Tooth whined, flying quickly to the edge of the globe as more lights snuffed out. Kori touched the globe tentatively, watching as several lights began to flicker out as well. “This isn’t possible…not this fast…he’s not that strong,” North muttered, turning to Jack. “We must go now.” he said, nodding towards the sleigh. They had to get back to a child. Had to figure out a way to make them believe again. And quickly. The toll of the lights dying that fast would have a harsh effect on all of them. Even Jack, now that he was a Guardian. “Your fates are all tied together. If they don’t have children believing in them, they wither away,” Jack’s voice echoed in all their minds.

Kori followed Jack willingly, but she touched his hand with her fingers as though to assure herself he was still real. She didn’t grab his hand, but merely grazed her fingers by his. As they entered the sleigh the elves had prepared, they took off almost as quickly as they had before. Bunny held on tightly, not really wanting to be there, but knowing he had to be. Kori laid her head on Jack’s shoulder as they rode, and as they exited the worm hole and back to town, she closed her eyes a moment. “Why does the darkness come before the light?” she whispered weakly. Before anyone had time to respond to her, a loud shrieking neigh was heard and a flash of black knocked into the sleigh. As the reindeers fell to the side, but kept running, the Guardians looked around a bit more fearfully. A laugh as heard through the night air, and slowly the moon began to fade behind a dark, deep cloud.

Kori fell sideways as another cloud of smoke slammed against the side of the sleigh. “Pitch!” North yelled into the darkness, trying to steady the reindeer. It wasn’t until a dark wave of black rose in front of the sleigh that North turned to those in the back. “Brace yourselves!” he yelled, as the reindeer slammed into the cloud of blackness. The horses neighed angrily, and threw themselves around the sleigh again. As the sleigh rocked back and forth, and Bunny got slammed into Kori, the female was knocked away from Jack and to the edge of the sleigh. The female shrieked weakly, grasping feverishly for the side of the vehicle. As she went to the edge, she held onto the wood with what nails she had. “Jack!” she called out, knowing at least with him flying she would be okay. A final slam to the side did her in. As her fingers released her grip and her body flew upwards away from the moving sleigh, Kori felt herself being pulled towards the Earth at breaking neck speed. The reindeer themselves fell to the ground as well, Tooth trying hard to grab Bunnymund to get him to safety. This left Kori and North in a bad situation as the sleigh fell. North braced himself, knowing he would be okay. The human, though, not so much.

Kori’s one scream faded into blackness before anyone could do anything for her. As the sleigh hit the snow, North got up instantly, not worried as much about the reindeer. “Kori!” he yelled, turning to Jack. He was fully convinced the girl had fallen to her death. Moving weakly out of the broken sleigh, he walked into the snow. “Kori!” he yelled again, the other Guardians standing to their feet as well. A laughter was heard as nightmares surrounded them. Pitch appeared in front of them, protected by the mares at a safe distance. “looking for something?” he asked, a smile on his lips as the Guardians pulled out their weapons. Shaking his head, the male smirked again. “I wouldn’t, if I were you,” he clicked his tongue. Moving the robe of his black material, Kori’s figure slumped out of the sitting position she was, and to the snowy ground below. Her eyes were open, but her body unresponsive to the male above her. “what did you do?” Tooth demanded, moving forward. Pitch merely created an arrow with his dark sand, and held it to the girl under him. “I wouldn’t, if I were you,” he stated.

He smiled, picking the girl up and placing her on a horse. Her eyes slowly faded and closed as the horse held her. “Your miracle will now become my salvation,” he hissed, giving a slight bow to the Guardians. “Thank you for bringing her to me. I can very well use her to my advantage,” he smirked as he touched the mane of the mare again. As he faded with the nightmares, his chuckling could be heard, until all of him and Kori disappeared into the shadows.

-----------------------------------

OOC; Hope its okay @snowfox

[Deleted]

נ a c k  ❉  Ғ r o s t

   

   He snarled, the snow below turning to a frigid ice that crackled about him. "How!?" Frost growled, "How had that just happened?" He threw his hands up and paced, running his free one through his hair in frustration. His eyes cast back to the skies and with a sigh, he attempted to fake a calm. His voice was still cold, "We've gotta get her back. I've gotta get her back, even if I'm doing it alone..." 

---

Your ice won't be enough...

    Chaos struck within Jack. For the longest time, he'd thought he was only becoming stronger each and every day as more and more kids believed in him. No... it had weakened him in a sense. He'd grown comfortable with their belief. A swirling blizzard clouded his thoughts and, only when Santa cried for a brace did he snap out of it. 


The quick whip of wind, the shaking of the sleigh, the whinnies of terror, and the wave of black... Everything hit all at once and-- "Kori!" He cried watching as she fell from the side. He moved as swift as he could, diving with Tooth to catch. As the darkness flew about them, Jack was forced to draw his arm up over his eyes, wincing as he whipped the staff forward, giving a gust of wind to both slow himself and clear the black sands. 



He was caught up into a pile of snow, moving with a quick sweep of his staff to give a powdery fall to those around him. Frost glanced left and right, rifling through the snows until...

Looking for something?


Chills rippled over Frost's shoulders and he instantly swept up to his feet, twisting as he aimed his staff once more...

wont be enough...


He didn't launch an attack. He couldn't. Heart was in his throat, slamming, threatening every fiber of his being to be on frozen edge. Then he saw her. The flash of the red hair and her bright green eyes filled with petrified terror. Frost couldn't help it, he stepped forward, knowing very well how helpless he was and yet... what else could he do but try? 

The snow beneath his feet seemed to melt and solidify into packed ice almost instantaneously from the spiral of emotions playing through him. "Let. Her. Go." He gritted through his teeth. There was nothing he could do.... nothing at all and he knew it. 

At the swirl of Pitch leaving, Jack lunged forward again as if to try and grab for what chance Kori may still be in their clutch and not in Pitch's. 

He snarled, the snow below turning to a frigid ice that crackled about him. "How!?" Frost growled, "How had that just happened?" He threw his hands up and paced, running his free one through his hair in frustration. His eyes cast back to the skies and with a sigh, he attempted to fake a calm. His voice was still cold, "We've gotta get her back. I've gotta get her back, even if I'm doing it alone..."

Forcing himself to face his fellow Guardians, the spin only caused the patch of ice to swirl out further. Though he kept his face as stoic and icy as possible, it was obvious just how angry-- raging-- he was beneath it all. 

"Go..." He finally decided with conviction, "Go defend the other children, keep them believing in you, but stick together. It's the only way you've done it before." He cast a quick burst of wind beneath him, allowing his sense of flight. "I've got to take a look and get Kori back." His heart weighed down and, for a moment, he felt as though it would keep him grounded. He had to, though; he had to fly. If he couldn't, then it would mean that he'd stopped believing in her. Or worse... 

His teeth clenched again and he took a steadying breath, "I've been on my own before... I can handle a few more nonbelievers than the rest of you had." Squaring his shoulders and raising his chin, "Guardians... let's save the children."














OOC;; Go sleep~

[/quote]

[xxLostChildrenxx]

Bunnymund shook himself off, standing slowly and shaking his entire body as Pitch left. He looked at Jack with a stern expression as the boy stated what he was going to do. “It’s one child! One!” He yelled, to which North turned to him. “It’s one girl. Who can’t save us anyway. We protect the other children, and the other children need us! One girl’s death isn’t going to change the course of the world. We need you here, Jack. THIS is what you signed on to do. You’re coming with US and leaving that girl with him!” Tooth fluttered to the ground, her eyes wide. “You shouldn’t have said that…” she muttered, seeing the flare in Jack’s eyes. Before Jack could outright kill the rabbit, North stepped in front of the two of them. “Jack, I don’t know what use she is to us, but she clearly means enough to you. Go find her.” He paused, looking to Bunny for a moment, then Tooth.


“Jack, take Sandy with you. You’ll need him if Pitch does anything. Bunny, Tooth and I will go raise the children’s spirits. We’ll take care of the nightmares and you two bring the girl back.” As the three ran off, Sandy looked to Jack for a moment, before a bed appeared over his head. Pointing up to it, he tried to signify his thoughts. The only safe place for Pitch Black to hide was in the safety of his own bed. Manny was still hidden behind dark clouds, obviously placed there as a shield to block him from seeing anything going on in the Earth below. Pitch had, indeed, grown stronger. Sandy looked up for a moment, his eyes staring up to where Manny would have been. It was scary, in many ways, how Pitch had learned the art of sand the way he had. But, of course, his was black sand. A dark magic of sorts that would and could only be used for evil intent.


Tilting his head, the Sandman looked over to Jack, who was clearly distraught. He touched the boy’s hand gently, a look of concern on his face, as though he knew how Jack was feeling and why he was so upset. “We’ll get her,” his eyes seemed to say. Swirling his hand in a circle, Sandy created an airplane out of the golden material around him. Putting on his googles, he nodded to Jack, and they took flight into the dark night air. As he flew, Sandy looked over to the boy beside him. Moving his hand again, he transformed the airplane into a cloud of sand. “It’s okay,” his eyes seemed to say, although he obviously couldn’t speak what words he wanted to. It wasn’t until they came closer Pitch’s forest that the darkness seemed to swirl again. Pitch stopped his cloud and sank to the snowy forest floor. Using a whip of sand he dragged Jack down gently with him, pulling the boy to his side before releasing him.


“You’re coming to find her?” a voice hissed out of the darkness. “You’re looking in all the wrong places,” Pitch cooed. “You’ll never see her again, Jack. Just as I promised you. You did this. Just like you did with your sister,” he purred as the voice died and horses began to appear slowly behind them. Sandy moved over to Jack, knowing how much Pitch’s words must have stung. The horses snorted in anticipation and walked slowly, silently, towards the pair. Sandy looked at Jack, an arrow appearing above his head, pointing in the direction he believed the bed to be in. Of course they weren’t sure completely where it was, but a traffic light with a lit “Go!” appeared on Sandy’s head , and he pushed Jack away from him. He needed the boy to leave, to get Kori and he would take care of the mares.


As Jack took off, Sandy turned to face the horses. He smiled, pulling his whips out. The mares circled the small man, glaring at him while snorting their black smoke. It wasn’t until one mare charged that Sandy struck his whip and made it vanish. Then it was an all-out war. As the horses attacked, the Sandman struck them with his weapon. Pitch Black appeared from the shadows. “My, my. Sandman and my horses are playing, huh?” he smirked, his stature appearing taller and more lean now that the lights had begun to go out. “You underestimated me. I only have tonight to finish the work that was given to me. Once the sun rises, I have to hide again. Shame, really, being a creature of shadows. But this is the best time to attack,” he hissed, disappearing and reappearing only after his mares had cornered the Sandman. Sandy held his whip defensively and Pitch appeared next to one of the mares. “You’re going to vanish now,” he purred to the man, as a wave of horses overtook Sandy. He did his best to fight them off. Pitch once again pulled an arrow from his sands as he had done many years before. “Welcome back to the same story,” he whispered. “Now, I’ll show you a different ending,” releasing the arrow, Sandy flinched once as the sand struck him. His eyes widened painfully, and he stared at the man who was now hovering above him.


“Don’t worry,” Pitch was whispering, “I’ll take good care of her,” and with that, Sandy faded into the blackness of Pitch’s sand. Pitch Black smiled, as Sandy vanished, knowing he had once again succumbed to the blackness. “You guys have gotten weaker since last time. You got too cocky,” he whispered again, disappearing once more. The nightmares vanished as well, neighing as they approached the human’s homes nearby. It would truly be a beautiful night to remember. Pitch, though, returned home to take care of some last minute things.

-----------------------------------

OOC; ooc

[xxLostChildrenxx]

Pitch Black

Kori’s eyes fluttered open, her red hair spiraled around her. It took a few minutes for her to understand where she was, but once reality sank in the girl sat upright in a hurry. Her eyes scanned the blackness around her, as though she would be able to see with her human eyes into the catacombs of her prison. The female willed herself to her feet, reaching out with a blind hand in hopes of figuring out where she was. As her feet scuffled forward, her hand collided gently with a wall.

It felt like dirt, or brick, or some rough and hard surface. She couldn’t quite make out what she was in, or how she had gotten there, but anything seemed better than just staying in one place. Using the wall as a guide, she began to walk to her right, hoping either she’d find another wall or find light eventually. “Jack,” she whispered under her breath, as though he would just appear to her rescue, like some hero on a mission. Yeah, right.

He was a Guardian. They had met by accident and he was only protecting her because she had to believe in him to give him strength. That’s all it was, right? She heard a long chuckle cascading around the walls of the room, and suddenly a light dimly lit up where she was. Her eyes traveled around the area, and she took in the large catacomb-like structure. So, she really was in a prison. Pitch Black’s form began to rise from the ground, appearing just feet from the girl’s face.

Kori screamed, falling backwards, but not falling down as she stumbled a few steps. “He betrayed you,” Pitch whispered, his face turning to a look of empathy. “What?” she snapped, her voice wavering with the fear and confusion that hinted Pitch was gaining access. “Jack Frost didn’t tell you, did he?” Pitch asked, looking genuinely concerned. “Oh, no….” he put a hand to his forehead a moment, as though he was contemplating what he wanted to tell the girl and what he wanted to keep a secret. “He’s not coming for you…he told the Guardians that they had to go help the other children….” Kori nodded. “Good, he’ll protect the others.” Pitch shook his head, and kneeled in front of Kori, who was tensed but unable to run.

“He didn’t tell you about his sister, did he?” Pitch asked, not moving to touch the female who merely was staring down at him. “He died to save her. He fell into the water to save his little sister. You remind him so much of her. That he has to protect you now. But…the issue with that, is that he doesn’t see you, Kori. He sees his sister,” the man stated softly. “I’ve known him all my life.

He’s always been there. Of course he knows me.” her voice trembled. Pitch sighed, standing up slowly, though not making any threatening advances towards her. “How would you explain this?” He asked, waving his hand in a circle to create a mass of dark sand, which became transparent. Jack was seen with the Guardians, running to town to protect the children. In his hand was Kori’s notebook, full of drawings. As the picture changed, it became a close up of the pages of her drawings.

“You knew him a long time ago….” Pitch whispered as the image opened into a drawing of Jack Frost kneeling on her window sill, and her looking out to the moon. “You knew he would come one day…” Kori nodded, turning her head away from the image. “And he did…” she whispered. Pitch touched her cheek, gently, which caused the girl to turn her head away from him. “But, what happens next?” Pitch asked, gently. Kori shrugged, though her eyes said she knew more than she was to tell. “He found another to protect, didn’t he?” Pitch asked.

“He doesn’t have to come for you anymore, because all he needs is the love of other children. You are expendable to him. To all the Guardians. But, child, you’re not expendable to me. I need you, Kori,” the man stated, looking down at her with a compassionate look. “I need your help. I can’t be without you. I just want to be believed in like they are. Not ignored. I don’t want to be the monster under the bed. I want to be seen…felt by another child….I want….” Pitch moved away, disappearing into the shadows as Kori looked around for him.

“I just want to be wanted….” He stated softly, repeating her own words as Kori stood there in shock. Pitch then appeared beside her once more. “I couldn’t imagine anything more beautiful,” he stated softly, caressing Kori’s hair as he spoke. “Don’t leave me alone…” he begged the girl. Kori took a moment, paused, and took a step back. “Please believe in me….” Pitch Black whispered. Kori shook her head. “I do believe in you…I’m just not afraid of you,” she reported, stancing herself defiantly.

Pitch gave an angry hiss, much to Kori’s surprise, and his dark shape reared up larger. This meant children’s faith was dying. This meant that the nightmares were winning. Kori shook her head, not allowing herself to draw back as much as she wanted to. “Im not scared of you,” she repeated, to which she was met with a hard slap across the face. Falling to the floor, Kori cowered for a moment, her eyes narrowing.

“Oh….” Pitch stated softly, his voice become a hoarse, malicious tone. “You will be,” he informed her as he vanished once more into darkness. Alone now, Kori began to take off at a run. Not sure where to head, she went in the direction she felt was her best option. And she continued running until she hit a wall.

Patting it down for some sort of secret exit, she froze as she heard a snort behind her. Turning around, she pressed her back to the wall as the mare stared at her with a petrifying look. It stood and stared at her for several seconds, until Kori dove forward to hit it. Moving out of her grasp, the mare merely watched as she stumbled forward and almost fell, before taking off at a run in the opposite direction. Trotting, the mare kept up with the running girl with ease, simply playing a game of cat and mouse to buy time.

It wasn’t until Pitch Black reappeared, a grin on his face, that Kori drew back. The mare behind her, the man in front of her, she was trapped just watching. Out of his cloak, Pitch pulled some light sand and sprinkled it on the ground in front of the girl. “Sandy…” she whispered. “They’re all going to die,” Pitch stated, a smirk on his smug face. Kori shook her head, “No….” Pitch merely chuckled. “You’ll always be mine. It was in your fate. It was in your book,” he stated. “NO!” she yelled again, before turning to take off away from him. Pitch appeared in front of her every time she tried to change direction and run.

Finally she stopped and stared him down. “Let me go!” she demanded, to which Pitch got inches from his face with hers. It was then that Kori cowered down, his icy feel even colder than Jack’s. “You belong to me,” he repeated, opening the palm of his hand in front of her. Kori blinked, and then a pile of black sand appeared. She took a step back, but was unable to do anything as he blew it in her face. Kori coughed, rubbing it off as quickly as she could. Pitch merely grinned. “Good luck,” the man hissed, disappearing one last time, leaving the girl alone in her prison.

═════════════════

OOC; @snowfox let me know if you like it or not so i know if i need to change anything!

No? I don't know what it's like to be cast out?
To not be believed in!
To long for... a family...
All those years in the shadows,
I thought no one else knows what this feels like...
but now I see I was wrong

[Deleted]

נ a c k  ❉  Ғ r o s t

   

      "My... sister?" Jack froze at that, the comment catching him completely off-guard. He'd saved her, had he not? Kept her from the threat of the ice and sent her to safe land in sacrifice of himself falling through the ice. That was all that had happened, right? He was a Guardian because of that one event. Because of that, the moon told him his new name... gave him his new role... So how...? "I never saw her again..." He felt his heart freeze over and gave a shiver at the chill that passed through his entire being. Pitch was right. After becoming Jack Frost and returning to his village, he fled soon after realizing he was dead... He didn't stay and guard her... He... failed.



        His breathing turned quicker and his eyes darted back and forth, something washing outward from his core. He clenched his teeth and looked into the darkness, his eyes wild and dangerous. It may have been true for that, but now? Now he truly was a Guardian. Sandy gave him a motion and Jack nodded, understanding exactly what was going to happen. It was an opportunity. A chance for him to change that idea that he'd just leave after saving someone once. Bunnymund's voice echoed through his mind.


It’s one child! One! It’s one girl.

        He was right, Kori was just one girl. But she was one Jack had made a promise to. He'd seen fear in her eyes and it was his job to make sure that fear melted away into laughter and play. The light above Sandy gave Jack the signal to leap into the air, a quick updraft carrying him from the sand and, in an immediate down-strike of a whipping gale, he sent himself sailing down into the hole beneath the bed. There was a child in trouble... and Frost had a promise to keep.


        He slid along the passage before being unceremoniously dumped into the main pit. Knowing, however, this time, how Pitch's lair worked, he gave a quick updraft and settled himself on one of the sets of stairs. The whistle of wind echoed down the corridors and, for some strange reason, it almost made Jack feel a sense of satisfaction. "That's right. I'm coming for you this time." He muttered under his breath. 

NO!


        The echo of Kori's voice made it plain and crystal clear for Jack. He also knew exactly where Pitch was then. He started off in the direction he heard the voice before stopping, turning back and heading down the next corridor. If this place was anything like the first time he was here, it'd be filled with illusions and misconceptions. Just like Pitch to be a coward and hide in the safety of distorting shadows. Jack kept a close eye against the walls, soon finding the need to give illumination with the mystical illusions he could cast.

         As if circling with his mood, the images put forth were barely perceptible but moved in quick, hostile spurts. Some where barely visible long enough to see long horns reaching back across the entire length of their bodies, icicles dangling from each point. One of the frost spirits would leap forward, illuminate the way and disappear before its hooved feet could ever touch the ground. Behind the swarm of temporary creatures, Jack ran. His bare feet hit the ground and, in following the corridor until it took a twisting turn did he stop to listen intently. 

You belong to me...

        It was faint, quiet, and from a fair distance, but it was there. Jack ground his teeth together before running after the illusive captor and his victim. He skidded to a stop only moments after, the flickers of the deer leaping forward eventually circled about Kori's figure once before stopping altogether. His staff was at the ready, prepared to give Pitch a chilling surprise before realizing they were alone. 

        Silently, Jack rushed to her side, looking her in the eyes as gentle flickers of illuminated snowflakes barely cast a glow. Without any form of a word, he grabbed her hand and took her back the way he'd come, knowing precisely when to turn. Once back into the main area, he swept an arm about her waist and, with only a warning to hold on tight, he clutched her to him and bounded from the side of the walkway.


        The slap of wind was cold and exhilarating, sending them upwards and back the way that he had come. Once he'd pulled them from the infinitely long fall back up the pit, the bed blasted to the side from one rather violent spire of ice, he set her down. Icy eyes searched for Sandy and, when he found no sign of the Sandman, he hissed under his breath, turned in full circle to scout and then reluctantly turned back to Kori.


        His mouth opened, meaning to ask her if she was okay, but all that came out was a sigh. Frost looked to her a moment longer before dropping the staff to the ground and embracing her with both arms, pulling Kori up against him and burrowing his face into her fiery locks. Taking a long steadying breath, he simply let her presence against him reconfirm one thing; he wasn't going to give up on Kori.


        Not now. Not ever. And above all, he certainly wasn't going to stop believing in her.  




















OOC;; >w<~

[xxLostChildrenxx]

The events themselves took moments, but they almost seemed like a lifetime to the girl who was ready to collapse to the ground. In the several seconds Pitch Black had left her alone, despair had settled into her being, an acceptance of whatever fate would bestow upon her. It was there in that darkness, Kori saw a flash of a faint light. It wasn’t enough to cause alarm, and it went out long before she knew it had existed at all. But it was there. And it was enough to turn her head towards where she assumed the light had journeyed from. She felt a cold hand long before she saw anything. Jumping slightly at the sudden touch, she followed the figure’s lead until her mind registered the touch of the hand. Jack Frost. She didn’t speak a word, almost fearful that if she spoke Pitch would show back up and pull her away again.

Instead, she followed obediently. When they stopped, Kori opened her mouth to speak. Instead of getting anywhere, Jack already had her in his arms, and they were flying out of the tunnels. Kori wrapped her arms about the boy’s neck, clinging to him in protectiveness from the cold and from the flight she could not provide herself. She saw as the bed flew to the side, a statement of anger of Jack’s part, something that Kori couldn’t begin to understand. As they made it to the ground once more, the boy released her, scanning the surrounding forest for something. She knew at once what he wanted to find. Her eyes lowered and she reached into her jean pocket, pulling out the tiny fibers of golden sand that remained from Pitch. She looked into Jack’s eyes, sorrow in her own. What was she going to say? Sandy was dead? It wasn’t fair. He was dead because of her.

As Jack went to speak, Kori adverted her eyes back towards the ground. He was going to yell at her now. “You belong to me,” Pitch’s voice echoed in her mind. “He betrayed you.” The thud of the staff dropping into the snow brought Kori out of her thoughts. He was defenseless now should Pitch return. He didn’t have the staff – she tensed up momentarily as his arms wrapped around her. What was he doing? She could feel his breath in her hair, his arms about her waist and back. He was clinging to her, drawing her in with – No. No, no, no. Guardians. Humans. Kori wrapped her arms back around Jack, but the hesitation in her soul grew with each passing second. She had never been so close to another human who actually took the time to care, let alone an immortal male presence.

She tightened her grip on him, burying her head into his chest for a few seconds, simply taking him in. His scent. His breathing. His texture. Whatever she could. She knew it wouldn’t last long. Whatever memories she could form from this attention she would cherish. It wasn’t until he released her first that Kori accepted letting him go as well. Looking up to the dark moon, she knew what they had to do. And it wasn’t staying hidden in that forest. “We need to find the others,” she said, breaking the silence that had existed between them. What else could she say? Tell Jack what Pitch had said to her? Sure it would probably clear up any miscommunication, but what was she supposed to say. “Hey, the bad guy said you betrayed me. What say you?” Kori buckled at the very thought. They were two immortal beings.

Two creatures she had just met. Which did she trust? Probably the ones that didn’t look like shadows and had a creepy voice. But, at the same time, the Guardians could be in the wrong just as easily. She didn’t know. She didn’t know anything at that point. Her eyes scanned Jack’s for any sense of his emotion, though she gave up rather quickly upon not finding much to go off of. He was good at that. He could show play and joy easily, but when it came to other emotions, the most that happened was that his face became sterner. And the air around him chilled to almost unbearable temperatures. “You can go to them,” she said softly. “I can find my way out of the forest. Just follow the light of the m--” she turned back to the sky, realizing her statement was invalid. “They need you. I can’t do anything to help you. You have to go protect the children,” she finished, her eyes moving back to Jack’s. She was honestly expecting to get hit over the head with his staff.

Off in town, Bunny was busy trying to provide whatever eggs he could manage to any child’s house who happened to leave a window or door unlocked. Tooth was doing her rounds, fading with every trip she made out of a window. North was trying to help Tooth, trying hard to keep the morale up in both the world and within themselves. Coming back together in Rome, the Guardians rested in the open air under a streetlamp. “What now?” Bunny asked, turning to North as he held Tooth up with one arm. “We aren’t going to last like this. What do we do?” North turned his eyes to Manny, who was still being blocked. It was the first time in a long time they would be fighting without the moon on their side. “We keep trying,” he stated, turning back to his partners. “We can only keep trying.”

-----------------------------------

OOC; ooc

[Deleted]

נ a c k  ❉  Ғ r o s t

   

      Frost adverted his eyes a long moment, hooking his foot under the staff and giving it a quick kick to flip it back into his hand. After catching it, his gaze followed hers up to Manny, his jaw stiff, his face hard. Upon her voice breaking the chilled silence, Jack gave a firm nod. His lips parted as he forced himself to take a steadying breath. He hurt. He didn't know exactly how or why he hurt, but he did. Like a cold grip-- colder than his own brisk touch-- clutched around his very core. Breathing alone seemed to rack his chest with tension that threatened to break him. 



       "I'm here, aren't I?" Was all he could say in immediate response, his eyes never looking to hers yet. They clenched together and another quick, sharp breath was taken. His head angled downward before he gave it a quick shake, "No. I didn't betray you." But I did betray her. It was stuck in his mind now. His own sister-- his blood-- his kin... and he had left her after saving her. He'd always thought he was the hero, but really, he was just selfish, wasn't he?

        The thought spread. It was like poison in his mind. He hadn't considered it and was, well, blissful in his ignorance. Now the seed was planted and the weed would grow and fester like nightmare who sowed it. He moved forward, shaking his head as Kori mentioned him leaving her. That would not happen. Ever. Not again. He would stay and follow if it killed him. One more denial of his need to stay with her would earn anyone a chilling glare that he couldn't help but still the air with. 

        Wrapping an arm around her middle again, he beckoned, giving Manny another wishful glance to hopefully guide the winds to where they needed to go and whisked the two of them away. He muttered a quiet, "Hold tight." To her, only dropping to the ground when it seemed like the lack of belief could keep him aloft with a passenger failed. The lights were fading, and quick. He'd stopped only once, leaning heavily on his staff and clutching to the burning sensation that gripped his heart. His vision spun, but only once. It was enough to worry him, but it was also a reminder of what was needed of him. 


        He shook it off, grabbing Kori by the hand and surged forward, reassuring her that he wouldn't falter anymore. Just when it seemed like the conquest to meet up with the other guardians would stay awkwardly silent and stern, Jack came to the ocean, gave a devilishly coy grin, and tapped his staff against it once. 


"You remember how to skate?" Jack smiled to her. Even if this was the end of his time as a Guardian, might as well use the time he had to have a bit of fun, right? On bare feet, he coasted out, ushering her to join him. Narrowing his eyes to her shoes, he lashed out with the staff, giving her blades made of the same material they were to coast on. "It'll be a bit faster than what you're used to, but it'll be fun." He reached out a hand towards her, the blue-ish eyes curling as that lop-sided earnest smile came into play.

Sure, there was still worry there. How couldn't there be when, in the very city they had just passed, were the screams and whinnies echoing of the nightmares. He'd only needed to freeze two, finding the effort needed to be far more difficult than he remembered. But, in his own small way, a bit of gently nurtured fun would go a long, long way. The entire shore was covered in fractals of ice, curling outwards and shooting off forwards.   


"C'mon." Gesturing with the out-stretched hand, he spoke in a confidence that he wasn't even sure came from his own voice.
"Trust me."
















OOC;; Don't ask questions, just take this post~

[xxLostChildrenxx]

Great. Now he wouldn’t look at her. Kori’s spirt fell drastically, until a twinge of darkness engulfed her. She mentally shook it, knowing she couldn’t stop believing. Couldn’t lose faith. She watched as the male flipped his staff back to his hand and turned towards the sky. Manny was there somewhere, lost behind the nightmare’s clouds. “I’m here, aren’t I?” he asked, to which Kori could only agree. “Yeah – but “ he cut her off quickly. “No. didn’t betray you,” he informed her. Kori stood there aback. She had spoken her thoughts aloud, hadn’t she? Or maybe he read her mind. Maybe…maybe. A chilled voice crept into the back of her mind. ‘You belong to me,’ Pitch’s voice informed her once more. Quickly, she turned her head away from Jack again. He couldn’t see her suffering. Not when he was suffering so much more. Children weren’t believing, and he was weakening.

His arm was about her waist again, whispering for her to hold tight again. She wrapped her arms around him until he fell again. So, it was worse than she had originally thought. He was weak. Very weak. Her brows furrowed in warning. She was by his side in a moment, and before he had time to stand back up and gather himself, she planted a gentle kiss on his cheek. He was cold, frozen even. But the quick kiss seemed to be enough to at least keep herself believing. “I still believe in you,” she whispered as he pulled himself back to his feet. ‘Atta boy. Somehow he seemed to shake it all off, or at least pretend to, and took the girl by her hand. “You remember how to skate?” He asked her. He didn’t wait for a response as he skated across the newly frozen lake he had created. Kori froze for a moment, looking down at her shoes. There was no way. He seemed to understand her concerns, and returned to her side. With a tap of his staff, ice formed on the bottoms and into the shape of blades.

At first, Kori almost fell down, until she grabbed Jack’s strong arm to keep her upright. “It’ll be a bit faster than what you’re used to, but it’ll be fun.” She looked into his eyes, uncertain of if she could actually pull it off. But when their eyes connected, her tension vanished and her hand took his without a second thought. As he pulled her out onto the ice, she stated beside him with almost shaky legs. “C’mon,” he was reassuring her, as though she were the only one who needed it. “Trust me,” his voice echoed in her ears. To which was the sinister response ‘he betrayed you’. Kori looked over to Jack, looking into his eyes once more. She had to trust him. Had to believe, or she would fall. She couldn’t allow the darkness to overcome her. She had to fight on.

As they skated side by side, Kori allowed herself the pleasure of getting used to the frozen skates that were indeed faster than any human made blade. It took her several attempts to get it down, but once she was able to stand on her own two feet, she left Jack’s side to try her own luck with staying upright. At first, she would make it a few feet, then slide out and end up sliding on her butt several feet on the ice. Giggling at every mistake, she continued to get up and keep at it. Finally, she was able to stay upright and attempt a slow, single spin which both feet were still planted on the ice. She’d never be a professional skater, but at least this was more fun than either of them trying to worry about Pitch’s actions around the world. It was just them at that moment. He and she out on the ice. Kori slowed to a stop and waited for Jack to return to her side. She didn’t touch him, nor would unless he touched her first, but skated next to him until the both finally decided it was time that they continue on their journey back. They still had to find the other Guardians, and quickly before all of them were too weak to continue fighting.

Kori wrapped her arm around Jack's and let him lead her back to the edge of the lake. "We can walk if you're too weak to fly," she told him. 'I just don't want you to be hurt,' she thought to herself. Instead of waiting for a response, she waited until he returned her shoes to normal and took him by the hand. How they would find the Guardians, she wasn't sure. But, they would. And that was that. A jingling sound was heard, to which Kori looked around for the source of the noise. "Do you hear that?" she asked. Her answer was the sudden hoofbeats that were running for them. "Dasher! Dancer!" Kori suddenly squealed, diving forward. 'Please don't sing the song,' her memory reminded her of North. The reindeer that showed up, sleigh in tow, were snorting, breathing heavily. "They're affected by it, too, aren't they?" Kori asked, looking back to Jack. The reindeer seemed impatient, stamping their hoofs, and throwing their heads to the back of them. "We should probably let them take us, huh?" she asked, before climbing aboard the sleigh.

Waiting for Jack to follow, Kori slid over in the seat so he could join her. As they all took off again, the reindeer seemed to know exactly where they were headed and would take them. Kori leaned her head on the side of the sleigh, not pushing her luck by being so touchy with Mr. Frost beside her. In the sky, as they flew over different towns and countries, Kori could only look down and see the nightmare's black clouds as it engulfed entire cities. "We'll never be too late," she muttered and shut her eyes. Drifting off rather quickly, her breathing softened sleepily as they took the long ride towards where the other Guardians would be waiting for them.

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OOC; ooc

[Deleted]

נ a c k  ❉  Ғ r o s t

   

    The touch was brief, a gentle brush and one that Jack could have sworn he'd imagined. It warmed him through which was a feeling that almost seemed painful when it vanished back into his natural chilled self. His frosty gaze glanced momentarily ro her vivid green eyes and he stood straight once more. With a deep breath, he seemed revitalized with her words alone before they were off. 

    It took a few tries on the ice for her, but soon she seemed to be gliding just as easily as he was. After a doozy or two which was softened with a quick burst of air, she'd gotten the hang of it. Then, oh then... that laugh. That one little giggle. Frost stopped short, a small intake of air and he glided further out to the ice. Yes, that was it. That was what he had to remember. One child still laughing at his antics no matter how old they were, one smile, one gleam of joy in the eyes and that... oh that was what drove him onward. 

   She drifted out to him, as if noticing the stop. There was no contact but, really, did there need to be? He looked at her for a moment and both of their minds seemed to be ripped away from the stopped time. Stepping back into the snowy patch at the edge of the lake, he hooked his staff over his shoulders, letting the hold over the water he had dissipate. It cracked and rippled, falling away just as the magic in her skates seemed to shatter into brilliant snow shimmering at her feet. 

    "If you're up for walking, I really wouldn't protest to that." Frost admitted almost sheepishly. He ducked his head and gave a mild smile, nearly ashamed at his own realization that the lack of ability he had in that regard. He wasn't nearly as expunged as he was a few moments ago. However, he wasn't nearly as faithless in himself as he was earlier either. He also had her own belief to energize him. "Kori," He started, turning to face her having his hand be taken by her own. It stopped him from speaking, the serious expression in his eyes turning even more stern. This was exactly what had crossed his mind. He didn't pull away in the slightest. In fact, he squeezed her hand and looked to it, his heart giving his chest a solid beating as he thoughtfully spoke his next words, "This isn't going to be easy, especially with my fe--" The sound of bells and the cries of North ushering them on broke Jack off, his eyes drifting upwards as the sleigh lurched and fell. His heart dropped with it.  


    Jack attempted to give a reassuring smile to Kori, giving her a hand up into the sleigh before climbing in after. He gave Nick a reassuring pat on the shoulder before settling easily into the back. His eyes closed and he let his head tip back before giving a grateful exhale of breath. Both of his arms sprawled out along the back of the sleigh, one conveniently tucking around Kori. His fingers toyed with a lock of her hair for a moment though his face never gave away exactly what he was doing before the action slowed and ceased altogether. It was as though he'd gone into a trance-like sleep. There was no movement from him. No breath, no twitch, nothing aside from the brisk air whipping over his face and through his hair. 


The landing, though rough, seemed to just barely rouse Frost from his dozing haze. His eyes seemed almost bleary at first before snapping back into frosty focus. Rising from his seat, he was perching on the side of the sleigh with ease, glancing about as they slid into a stop. "It's cold here, North..." Jack spoke in a low tone, "Just how badly are we doing?" It was as though he was afraid to ask the question. He was even more terrified, however, of the answer he already knew would follow it. Not. Good.

    Shaking the thought from his mind, he bounded from the side. The landing was a bit more heavy than the light-footed Jack had intended and, whirling, offered his hand as though there was nothing wrong. He felt it though, he knew it was coming and he still felt it shake his entire body. Holding his staff up against the middle of his back, he helped Kori step easily-- easier than he had-- from the sleigh. Glancing back to North, "We've got to get ourselves together. And quick. With purpose and..." His icy eyes glanced over to Kori warmly, the same humbling smile from before crossing his coy lips, "Without sacrificing those we need to care most about."

    Just because Bunny had a point that they couldn't waste time on a single child, Frost knew the unwavering power of one belief all too well. One single child could turn the tide of a war they'd never thought they'd see return. 





OOC;;