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Jack Frost had a marking on his chest. It was small, barely the size of his thumb. Its outline was pure black, much like a tattoo, and in the shape of a coffin. When Jack woke up on that frozen lake, the Moon had only told him his name and nothing more. The Moon never answered any of Jack’s questions, let alone his inquiries about the strange marking directly over his heart.
Jack originally feared it was a marking of death. A symbol of his afterlife. But after exploring the world, he realized that wasn’t the case. It took a long time for him to discover what it truly was since most people seldom talked about it. But it was a Soulmate mark. Most people’s marks were hidden, but on rare occasions, they would appear on someone’s wrist, someone’s cheek, someone’s ankle or knee… somewhere prideful and visible. Most people didn’t speak about them, since they were apparently very private, but others proudly displayed and freely talked about theirs enough for Jack to understand.
A Soul Mark connects you to another person. Someone to spend your life with. Someone who makes you feel whole, loved, and cherished. As soon as Jack heard that, he became obsessed over finding his Soulmate. For a time, at least.
He had spent 100 years searching the globe for who it could possibly be. He saw many humans and many spirits, but could not discern whether they were his soulmate. Mortals had many things to say about soulmates.
“If your soulmate is not born yet, you will not have a mark.”
“If your soulmate is dead, the mark will appear faded and devoid of color.”
“If you have not met your soulmate yet, the mark will look incomplete.”
Jack had panicked, thinking his soulmate was dead because it was black, but it was only the outline. The inner shape had not filled in yet. It was simply a void on his chest; bold and unfaded. A black-lined soul mark wasn’t unheard of, but definitely rare, since most were colored. Jack could only come to the conclusion he just… hasn’t met his soulmate yet.
But Jack was terrified, thinking one day he’d wake up, and his soul mark would be faded. He would check it every day out of paranoia, worried his soulmate was mortal. Would he need to beg the Moon for their return at his side? Would such a wishful plea even be granted?
After a hundred years had passed, Jack gave up on finding his soulmate. His mark hadn’t faded, so his soulmate must be a spirit, which eased his mind just a little. Problem is, finding one’s soulmate is harder than he thought. The two won’t know their souls are connected until they touch each other’s soul marks, which is an intimate thing to do. Plus, his reputation as “Jack Frost: The needy little winter spirit”, didn’t do him any justice.
The only thing he had to go on was this: your soulmate should feel when you touch their soul mark through their own. Jack frequently touched his, but very rarely did he ever feel reciprocation. On rare occasions, he could almost feel the sensation of scratching upon his chest. Sometimes it bordered on painful. He didn’t understand why his soulmate would itch their mark, but perhaps it was in a strange place? Jack often laughed to himself thinking his mark would be placed under someone’s armpit. That would explain a lot.
That’s how he spent most of his days. Wondering about his soulmate, what kind of life they would have. Jack loved being free-spirited and caring for kids. Would his soulmate feel the same?
Thinking about his soulmate used to bring him great comfort in the endless bounds of his loneliness. But now, it only seemed to hurt more as the years went by without them. So Jack tried to forget about them. Most days he could, when he was in the midst of a snowball war with the kids of Burgess.
Unfortunately for him, he’d soon have other problems on his mind.
~~~
“‘Ello mate. Been a long time. Blizzard of ’68 I believe. Easter Sunday, wasn’t it?”
“Bunny?!” Jack exclaimed with surprise.
The rabbit sniffled. “You still lookin’ for yer soulmate, Frostbite?”
Jack bit his lip. “None of your business.”
“Ha. You made it everyone’s business. Practically threw yourself at every spirit out there.”
Jack felt embarrassed, quickly turning to leave. “If you’re just here to mock me, then I’m leaving.”
“Not so fast, mate.”
“WHOAH- WHAT THE-!?”
Jack was stuffed into a sack and thrown through a twisting portal before falling hard on his side. He struggled out of the bag, until he came face to face with the four Guardians.
Jack swallowed nervously. “Oh boy…”
~~~
Jack couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
They wanted him to become a Guardian. The Moon practically demanded he become a Guardian.
They wanted him to stay cooped up in some hideout, bribing kids? That went against everything he was. Everything he believed in. He had gone out every day on the slim chance he would run into his soulmate, and despite his hope of ever finding them dwindled, he’d be damned if he ever gave up completely entirely. The Guardians were insane if they thought he’d agree to shack up and give up.
The dialogue seemed to run in circles. North had a heart-to-heart with him, but it only seemed to confuse him more. It wasn’t until Tooth took off in a panicked hurry that things changed.
~~~
“It’s not the teeth he wanted. It's the memories inside them.”
“What do you mean?” Jack asked in confusion.
“That’s why we collect the teeth, Jack. They hold the most important memories of childhood. My fairies and I… we watch over them. When someone needs to remember something important, we help them.” Tooth sighed. “We had everyone’s here. Yours too.”
“My memories?”
“From when you were young. Before you became Jack Frost.” Tooth said with a smile.
“But… I wasn’t anyone until I became Jack Frost.”
“Of course you were. We were all someone before we were chosen.”
“What?!” Jack lurched forward, gripping his staff nervously. “You have to show me!”
Tooth blinked with surprise. She nervously fluttered up to the wall mural and placed her hand in the center of it. She took a deep breath and pressed forward.
To everyone’s amazement, the wall was actually a hidden door. Tooth sighed with relief upon seeing the glittering boxes inside.
“Thank goodness, he didn’t take them.”
“Take what?” Bunny asked, overhearing.
“Your teeth.” Tooth said, turning around with a smile. The wall closed behind her as she fluttered back down to Jack. “I keep spirit teeth in a special location. After finding out you were going to be named Guardian, I placed yours here.”
Tooth held out his memory box to him. Jack lurched forward and took it from her hands, staring at it in awe.
Babytooth whirled around and stared down at the box excitedly. She chirped at Jack with a big smile.
Jack smiled at her, then looked back at Tooth. “You’re a lifesaver, Tooth. You don’t know how much this means to me.”
Tooth smiled with a blush. “Of course, Jack. I’m so glad I could help.”
Jack’s attention immediately returned to his tooth box. Cautiously, he pressed his index finger to its center, and the world ricocheted into thousands of mosaic diamonds, reflecting his past upon them.
He had a life. He had a town, a home, friends, admirers, a mother. And he had a precious little sister. He saved her, one fateful day in winter. Knowing she was safe, that she could live on, made Jack ecstatic. A big smile spread across his face.
The memories around him were whispering all at once, but one memory, in particular, caught his attention.
A five-year-old version of himself walked up to his mother; his hands over his chest.
“Mom… there’s something wrong with my soul mark.”
“What do you mean, Jackson?”
“It feels… cold.”
“Let me feel-“ She reached out her hand.
“No!” Jackson stepped away from his mother, clutching at this chest tighter.
His mother retracted her hand, realizing Jack must’ve been embarrassed. “I’m sorry sweetie, I’ll take your word for it. Is it always cold?”
“Yeah…” Jack whispered, looking at the ground. “It has always been cold. Just right here,” He gestures to his chest where his soul mark was hidden. “Everywhere else is warm. But right here… cold.”
His mother pursed her lips. It wasn’t normal for a soul mark to be cold unless the soulmate was dead. But Jackson’s mark, while unfulfilled, was a stark black the last she saw it. It was most definitely unfaded.
His mother smiled. “Well, honey, maybe…. your soulmate fell into some snow?”
“Snow?” Jack asked, his eyes big and questioning.
“Yes!” His mother said, getting onto her knees to eye level. “Maybe they live in a snowy land! That might be why your mark is always cold.”
Jackson scrunched his eyebrows, seeming to think really hard before giggling. “That makes sense. That means I can always play in the snow when I find my soulmate!”
Jackson’s mother laughed and booped his nose. “Don’t find them too quickly now! You’re still pretty young, and you have your sister to play with now!”
Jackson laughed when he heard his baby sister coo in the other room. He gave his mom a hug before rushing off to play with his sibling.
~~~
The memory faded, and Jackson awoke. His tooth box was in his hands, and Babytooth fluttered in front of him with interest.
Jack blinked, happy, but also conflicted. He raised his hand and pulled down his hood to touch his chest where his soul mark lay.
…
It was warm.
“Jack?”
The frost spirit looked up to see Tooth hovering with concern.
“Is something wrong?”
Jack shook his head and gave her a small smile. “I didn’t… see my soulmate.”
“Ah…” Tooth said sadly. “It’s okay, Jack. It happens.”
The other Guardians approached from behind. North nodded his head. “Tis alright Jack. None of us met our soulmates. But it doesn’t matter no more. We are free!”
Confusion settled over Jack’s features. He turned his head to stare at the burly man. “Free?”
Bunny shrugged, looking a little sad. “Eh, there’s no need for a mark when we’ve been pulled out of the soul pool.”
Jack looked to Tooth, hoping she’d give him answers.
Tooth luckily noticed his distress. “Most spirits are unable to move on to a new life. Having a soulmate complicates this. So when we pass on, our marks are transformed.”
Tooth held out the back of her hand to Jack and lifted up one of her golden feathers. A small green diamond resided below her middle knuckle. It was vibrant and sparkling in color and completely filled in, unlike his own.
“Our souls are complete now,” Tooth continued. “The belief and love we receive from children… It’s enough to fulfill us.”
Jack stared in awe at Tooth’s mark but froze when his brain caught up with him.
“Wait, so you… none of you have soulmates?!” Jack turned his head to look at the other Guardians.
North rolled up his sleeve and pointed to his right arm. Within the tattoo of “Nice”, the dot on the “I” was a bright red square, filled in and whole.
Sandy shook his head while Bunnymund raised his eyebrow. “This is why you’re the laughing stock of the spirits, Frostbite. Spirits don’t have soulmates.”
Jack raised his hand back to his chest. “But…”
Tooth smiled at the marking on her hand. “I used to have a mark. We all did. I even remember what it used to be. But when I became a spirit, my mark changed. I became powerful enough for my soul to exist on its own, without longing for another. We all have. Our marks are our own.”
“Wait,” Jack said, backing up, suddenly feeling claustrophobic.
Babytooth noticed something was wrong and tweeted, trying to get everyone’s attention.
“It’s where we draw our power,” Bunny added, pulling out a boomerang, ready to change the conversation back to one about stopping Pitch-
“But I have a soulmate!” Jack shouted.
Everyone looked at Jack with confusion.
Bunny shook his head. “Oh for egg’s sake, Jack leave that alone-“
Jack pulled down his hoodie, revealing his soul mark. “I have a soulmate!” He repeated, this time flushing a deep purple.
Everyone blinked.
“WHOT?!” Bunnymund shouted.
Tooth and North rushed forward to get a better look at it.
“It’s not filled in!” North said with wonder.
“It’s not your magic’s color!” Tooth added with excitement. “Jack… you… you DO have a soulmate!”
“That can’t be possible. How is that possible?!” Bunny exclaimed, completely losing his mind.
Tooth clapped her hands together and rushed forward, pulling Jack’s hoodie down further to investigate, making Jack flush and fidget further. “It’s not faded. Your soulmate must be a spirit!”
“This is great news, Jack! A wonder to behold!” North bellowed.
“It… it is?” Jack asked.
“Yes,” Tooth agreed. “Soul marks have the ability to store memories. Beyond your mortal life! If your soulmate wasn’t in your memory, then you are a very old soul.”
“Previous Lives,” Bunny whispered in awe. The cave walls echoed his voice.
Bunny realized everyone was now looking at him. He became awkward and scratched at the back of his ear.
“Soulmates ah-… most people are reborn. Assigned to the same soulmate. They might look different or talk different, but the soul inside is still the same. And like Tooth mentioned spirits like us are plucked out of tha’ cycle. For a spirit to ‘ave a soulmate… that’s almost unheard of.”
Tooth reached forward and placed a hand on Jack’s shoulder. “if you ever meet your soulmate, together, you two can unlock memories from your previous lives. Memories that hold incredible power.”
“Power?” Jack whispered.
North nodded, excited where this was going. “Yes, yes! Jack, you could gain new powers!”
Tooth smiled, sharing North’s excitement. “If your soulmate’s a spirit, if you ever find them and make a connection, you might be able to wield their power, since power is stored in our markings!”
Jack blinked, unable to take all of it in. Whatever it was they were saying, it was amazing. It gave him hope. Made him realize maybe his soulmate really is out there. That he’ll find them someday.
Jack blinked, his eyes catching sight of Sandy.
Sandy was ominously quiet, intently staring at Jack’s now-covered chest.
“Sandy?” Jack asked nervously. “You okay?”
The Guardians turned to the small man who seemed taken aback by all the attention. He quickly looked back to Jack and forced a smile and a nod. But then he became serious and made a fist, placing it down onto his other open palm.
“Bagh! You’re right Sandy.” North said, bringing out his swords. “Pitch takes priority.”
North turned to Jack. “Jack, if you help us… we will help you find your soulmate.”
Tooth nodded excitedly.
Bunny looked annoyed to roped into this, but Sandy gave him a thumbs up.
Jack looked between them all, warmth filling his chest.
“I’m in.”
~~~
Jack chuckled to himself, taking in the scene before him. All the Guardians, barring Sandy, were currently passed out in Jamie Bennett’s bedroom. Dream sand danced over their heads, creating fantasies of beauty and fun.
“Oh, I wish I had a camera right now,” Jack said, covering his mouth with a chuckle.
Sandman seemed to laugh at that, before noticing something in the window.
Jack turned around and realized it was a Nightmare. The creature sped off as soon as it was spotted, and Jack was hot on its trail.
“Come on Sandy! We can find Pitch!”
Jack and Sandy rushed into the night air, chasing two nightmares. Sandy had caught one and went to work changing its alliance as Jack darted after the other.
He released a bolt of frozen lightning its way, effectively incapacitating it.
“I got it!”
Jack rushed over and poked the creature with a stick. “Sandy! Did you see that?” He called, the adrenaline still crazed in his body. “Look at this thing…” He whispered.
“Frost?”
Jack whirled around, coming face to face with Pitch.
Jack instinctively shot frost from his staff, and Pitch effectively dodged. “You know… for a neutral party, you spend an awful lot of time with those weirdoes. This isn’t your fight, Jack.”
“They promised to help me.” Jack said, holding his staff at the ready, keeping Pitch where he could see him.
“Help you?” Pitch asked with intrigue. “Help you with what?”
Before Jack could say anymore, Sandman attacked.
A massive battle broke out, separating Jack from Sandman. The other Guardians had awoken and rushed over, joining the fray. Jack had just destroyed one of the Nightmares before another snuck up from behind and side-swiped him, knocking the staff out of his hands.
Jack spiraled as he fell through the air, catching his staff right before landing on the Sleigh.
Bunny eyed him. “You might wanna duck.”
Jack kneeled down as a boomerang hit the Nightmare from behind him, then whizzed past his ear back into Bunnymund’s hands. The rabbit gave him a smirk.
Jack smiled and shook his head at Bunny’s arrogance.
“Sandy!”
Jack and Bunny whirled at North’s outburst, following his gaze.
Sandman was surrounded. Pitch was rising on his own black cloud, taking aim.
Jack gasped and took off from the sleigh, summoning the wind at his back. He sped past the Nightmares that failed to contain him. With both hands, he adjusted his staff, and just as he had done for his sister so long ago, breeched through the darkness and hooked the Sandman by his arm, flinging him out of harm’s way.
Jack shouted in pain as the arrow pierced into his side, and he tumbled through the air.
“Jack!” Tooth screeched, rushing after him; Sandman and the others in hot pursuit.
Black sand snatched the frost spirit up before they could reach him, effectively stopping them in their tracks.
The sand spiraled upward, bringing Jack to Pitch’s Nightmare and setting him across the horse’s back. Black tendrils tightened over his limp body, preventing escape or fall. The black sand delivered Jack’s staff, and Pitch caught it with one hand.
He growled with annoyance and pointed the staff at the Guardians. They were breaking through his Nightmares.
“This isn’t over!”
With that, Pitch disappeared into the dark clouds in the night sky with Jack, and the Guardians had lost him.
~~~
Jack awoke with a startle. He gasped and hissed, holding his side with pain. He lifted his hoodie to investigate the wound. The puncture was black in color, but otherwise had frozen over. Scattered black sand coated the area, most of the arrow unable to penetrate and infect further due to Jack’s freezing abilities. He felt his hoodie and found the puncture hole, releasing a sound of frustration. He’d have to sew that.
“Well, well, well, look who’s awake.”
Jack immediately sat up, alert. He was locked in a cage in a dark cavern. Abandoned bridges and stairwells twisted the area like a maze. Light trickled in from above, casting stark shadows along the walls.
“Pitch… “ Jack whispered, scooting away from the bars.
The Boogieman appeared beside the cage, his golden eyes staring down at the frost spirit in his capture. “Don’t be afraid, Jack. I’m not gonna hurt you.”
“You already did,” Jack stated, his hands instinctively grabbing for his staff that wasn’t there.
“Well, I can’t help that if you get in my way, Jack,” Pitch said with disdain. “Looking for this?”
Pitch held up Jack’s staff, causing the frost spirit to snarl at him.
“Give it back!”
Pitch vanished Jack’s staff and ignored his demands. He started to circle the cage.
“It was my impression that you were to be on your way the moment you received your memory from the Tooth Fairy. It seems, despite my thievery of the Palace, your memories were returned to you. So it begs the question… why are you still parading around with those clowns?”
Jack stood up and glared. “None of your business.”
“Oh, no need to answer,” Pitch said. “I already know why.” Pitch suddenly disappeared amongst the walls, putting Jack on edge.
“You’re using them.”
“What are you talking about?” Jack asked with frustration.
“You think they’ll distract you. Help fill in the void deep in your heart.”
Jack froze, his blood running colder.
“You see,” Pitch smiled at him from the shadows. “You’re afraid you’ll never meet your precious soulmate.”
Jack gasped and took several steps backward as Pitch merged with the shadows in the walls.
Jack yelped when he was suddenly yanked downwards through the cage’s bottom, tumbling through corridors and confusing pathways.
“You’re afraid you’ll never hold them.”
Jack ran.
“You’re afraid you’ll never kiss them.”
He was cornered. He was embarrassed. His heart lay bare and dissected.
“You found the answers to your past life, but never saw the person you’re meant to share it with?” Pitch’s tone was mocking.
Jack clenched his fists, his teeth chattering.
Pitch appeared from the darkness and backed Jack up against the brick wall, tall and imposing.
“Honestly, it’s pathetic…” Pitch whispered.
“What are you, a lovesick puppy? The deepest desire of the chaotic, snow-ball-loving Jack Frost is to find his romantic partner? You truly want chains to tie you down?” Pitch asked, his eyes narrowing.
Jack gulped, shaking his head. “A soulmate doesn’t tie you down! They make you stronger.“
“Oh yes,” Pitch said with a smirk. “Then I guess it’s a good thing for me you’ll never find them. Perhaps, with your other half,” Pitch spit, “You might have stood a chance against me.”
Jack grit his teeth and threw a punch at Pitch. The boogieman disappeared through the floor.
“Oh, I haven’t even dug deep yet, have I, Jack?” Pitch’s voice echoed throughout the chamber. “You’re trying to be all chummy with the Guardians. What, they return your memory that was rightfully yours to begin with? Do you think you owe them now? No.”
Jack tried to run again. He needed to get out of here.
“You’re just using them. Something to fill up that gap in your heart. You see, you’re jealous they’re whole and not needy like you. You fear you’re broken.” Pitch’s shadow rose up from behind. “Let me ease your mind, mm?” Pitch whispered in Jack’s ear. “You are broken.”
Jack thrashed out and covered his ears, hyperventilating. The walls and floor were freezing over.
“You’ll never find your soulmate.”
Jack screamed.
“Never.”
Jack ran towards Pitch’s shadow amongst the wall and did the impossible. He reached through with both hands, caught hold of Pitch, and pulled.
Pitch yelped in shock as he was forced to materialize, stumbling to the ground.
Jack was immediately on top of him. The frost spirit punched Pitch’s face, making the Boogieman hiss and scratch back.
In a blind rage, Jack wrapped his hands around the man’s neck. Before he could squeeze, the two jolted, feeling the strangest sensation pass down their limbs from where their touch made contact.
Jack yanked his hands away, holding them up in shock. Pitch stared into Jack’s eyes, and Jack could only stare right back. They were gasping; chests heaving after their wrestle, but even more so now at the shock that pulsed through them. In the back of their minds, they knew there was something to this.
Pitch’s golden eyes started to flicker over Jack’s body. Jack realized what he was searching for.
The snowy-haired spirit glanced down at his chest, not daring to move.
Pitch swallowed, stepping forward. He reached out, loosening Jack’s hoodie strings before gently tugging down the fabric. Jack flushed blue when Pitch finally saw it. The black-lined small coffin lay bare for the taller man to see.
Pitch paused, curiously reaching out with two long-boned fingers towards the outlined shape. As soon as his fingertips made contact, the shape filled in; a pure inky black. Jack gasped at the sensation. It felt warm. Warmer than he’d ever felt.
Jack squeezed his eyes shut, tearing up. He reached out and clasped his hands around Pitch’s backhand and arm; firm, but gentle. It felt like coming home after a cold day. A cozy couch waiting by a lit fire, and hot chocolate brewed to perfection at the table-side. Finishing a puzzle with that last missing piece. An embrace from a long-lost loved one.
Jack collapsed to his knees, Pitch trailing after him; refusing to break the connection from his fingers. Jack openly sobbed, clutching Pitch like his life depended on it. Pitch looked just as distraught.
“H-how, how is this possible? Jack, are you mine?”
Jack fervently nodded his head, knowing for sure Pitch was his soulmate.
Pitch swallowed thickly, becoming manic. “But I don’t- I don’t have a marking. I’ve never had a marking-“
Jack looked up at him with tears stained down his cheeks. He blinked before leaning forward with both hands, reaching out towards Pitch’s neck. Pitch flinched, breaking their connection and tumbling backward. Jack fell into his lap, unfazed in his pursuit.
Jack looked Pitch in his eyes, hovering his hands out in front of him, awaiting permission. Pitch wasn’t sure what Jack was doing and could only stare. Blue eyes trailed down to Pitch’s neck, and Jack leaned forward evermore. He placed one cold hand on Pitch’s cheek, slowly easing him into a turn. Pitch could only go along with it.
Jack eased himself over Pitch’s shoulder and gently urged him into turning his upper body enough so that Jack could get a look. Sure enough on the back of Pitch’s neck lay a small hexagon, partially cyan in color. Jack’s mouth hung ajar as he reached for it. With one hand still caressing Pitch’s face, Jack used his other hand to gently press his fingertips to the soul mark as Pitch had done to him.
The reaction was instantaneous. Pitch melted in his arms. He sat up straighter, bringing Jack into a deep hug; snaking his long arm up Jack’s hoodie to reach back up to his coffin-shaped marking on the frost spirit’s chest.
The two sighed with bliss; Jack still whimpering into the Boogieman’s shoulder.
“Jack?” Pitch finally spoke, his voice unsteady. “Jack, is it-? Is it there?”
“Yes”, Jack whispered. “It’s there. It’s blue. A hexagon. On the back of your neck.” Jack traced the edges of it, somehow knowing exactly where it was without needing to look at it. “It’s all mine.”
“Gods…” Pitch whispered, holding Jack tighter. His voice was hoarse. “I never thought- … for eons did I think I was broken. That I didn’t have a mark. I never felt anything, never saw anything. It wasn’t until 300 years ago, that my neck started aching. I thought- I never thought it was this-“
Pitch caressed his nose into the side of Jack’s cheek, smelling his minty chill. “I’m a goddamned fool. I was unable to see it.”
“Everything you said-“ Jack whispered, thinking back to his previous anger, now completely wiped clean. “You were projecting, weren’t you? Your fears were the exact same as mine, weren’t they?”
Pitch’s shoulders shook as he started to weep.
Jack shook his head, anxiety coursing through him. “I searched for you. I searched everywhere for you-“
“I was hiding,” Pitch whispered, rubbing circles on Jack’s back and rocking the both of them in comfort. “I was hiding from them. The Guardians. I was weak. Unstable. I didn’t know I had a soulmate, no matter how much I longed for one. But now, now you’ve found me, Jack. I beg you to forgive me…” There was such raw emotion in the Boogieman’s voice. Jack had never seen the man so emotional.
Jack couldn’t respond. He only nuzzled deeper into Pitch’s neck.
Pitch reached up, ruffling Jack’s hair. “Now that I have you, I won’t let you go. Ever.”
Jack sniffled, blinking away tears. He hesitated, reality slamming back onto him like a bag of bricks.
The two refused to release each other’s embrace, let alone pull their hands away from their marks. Through their new connection, they could feel the worry and confusion settling in.
“Where…” Jack paused. “Where… does this leave us now?” He asked, looking into golden eyes.
Pitch blinked, unsure what to say. “Jack… come with me.”
“Where?”
“Anywhere. Everywhere. Stand with me, against the Guardians.”
Jack pulled his hand away from Pitch’s mark, and Pitch was forced to do the same. The two felt the loss of contact, but Jack suddenly became scared, and Pitch was overwhelmed by the sensation. He had never felt so attuned to someone’s fear before, and it was as clear as day.
“I don’t want to be against the Guardians.”
“I AM a Guardian.”
Pitch inhaled sharply at the revelations. His first reaction would have been betrayal, anger, then depressive sadness at the loss of his soulmate’s allegiance. But the fears within Jack spiraled into something else.
“I don’t want Pitch to be mad.”
“I don’t want my soulmate to reject me.”
“I don’t want to lose him.”
“Please don’t leave me.”
Pitch took a deep breath and schooled his expression. He reached out and took Jack’s shaking hands into his own. He smoothed his thumb over Jack’s surprisingly soft knuckles.
“Jack,” Pitch started, deeply saddened by how the spirit flinched in front of him. As if his words would physically harm him.
“Jack…” Pitch tried again, leaning forward to press their foreheads together.
Jack was still apprehensive and full of anxiety, but Pitch took a deep breath, and Jack tried to follow suit. As soon as they relaxed, Jack opened his eyes.
He was no longer in Pitch’s lair.
He was instead in a very large mansion. Ancient and majestic.
“Pitch?” Jack called out. His voice echoed amongst the walls, and no one called back. Jack felt nervous and rushed out of the room he woke up in. He walked down the hallways, but all the doors were closed and he couldn’t seem to open them. But then, at the very end of the hall, one door was slightly open, allowing beautiful golden light to filter through.
Jack walked over and looked through the doorway, trying to blink the bright light from his eyes.
The light finally stilled as the sunset through the window. There, by the sill, sat a man clad in uniform. A cape adorned his back with gold trim embroidery. He had slicked-back hair of the deepest shade of midnight, and he stared out into the sky; waiting, silent.
Jack slowly approached. “Hello?”
The man did not acknowledge him. As Jack neared, he realized who it was that sat upon that stool. “…Pitch?”
Just then, as the sun’s light no longer painted the sky, a bright white and blue light cascaded from the atmosphere. The man stood, gazing out the window in awe. The shooting star was heading right for him.
Jack stepped away from the window nervously, but the man that looked far too much like Pitch reached out with both hands desperately. Amazingly, he caught the shooting star. It flickered and sparked like a wildfire in his palms. The man turned away from the window, bringing the fire closer inside. His face was aglow with its beauty.
“There you are.” He whispered.
To Jack’s shock, the light in his hands spoke.
“I found you!” Its voice sounded too much like Jack’s. Young, chipper, but echoing beautifully.
The man smiled down at it. “You found me.” He brought it closer to his heart and closed his eyes, almost hugging it. “I awaited you, my light.”
“I’m sorry.” The light flickered. “I was born far away. But I came to you. I’m here now.”
The man opened his eyes and gave the starry flame some distance, still held safe in his arms. “What are you called in this life?”
“Hm. I’ve been called many names. Why don’t you guess?”
The man smiled at the invite to a guessing game. He thought for a moment. “How about… Nightlight?”
The flame flickered. It chuckled in amusement. “Nightlight? Lame.”
The man raised an eyebrow. “What? I think it suits you well.”
The flame’s blue light darkened like the sea for a moment, as if flushing with embarrassment. “Alright, well, what do I call you?”
The man bowed his head. “Kozmotis.”
“Koz. I like it!” The light suddenly ejected from the man’s arms and danced around him.
Kozmotis laughed as the light played around him.
After a few moments, the light settled in front of the man, hovering near his face. Kozmotis leaned forward and kissed the light, and Jack watched in amazement as the light slowly took form. A young man that had his face, wild white hair, and armor made of glowing stones appeared before him.
Nightlight and Kozmotis’s locked lips parted, and the two smiled at each other, content to be in each other’s arms. Their symbols, one on the chest, and one on the nape,
“Welcome home, Nightlight.” Koz whispered.
“It’s good to be back,” Nightlight replied with a smile.
~~~
Jack awoke from the memory… alone. Pitch was nowhere to be found.
Jack sat up and stared at his hands. “Nightlight,” He whispered to himself, remembering remnants of his life before he was human. Before he had a sister. But most of it was a blur.
Before Jack could ponder further, he felt a huff on the back of his neck. He yelped and scrambled away.
It was one of Pitch’s Nightmare Horses. It huffed at him again, but kept its distance and stared.
Jack calmed seeing as the creature wasn’t plotting to attack him. He stood up slowly and brushed himself off. He looked around but didn’t see Pitch in sight. His eyes shifted to the Nightmare. “Where’s Pitch?” He asked.
The Nightmare averted its eyes.
Jack paused, sensing the creature’s guilt. Jack walked over and placed his cold hand against the Nightmare’s cheek. Jack could feel the sand thrum beneath his fingertips.
Jack paused at the sensation in awe, before feeling the creature’s inner emotions.
Jack’s eyes blinked upwards in alarm. He asked the question once more. Fear lacing his fierce demand.
“…Where is Pitch?!”
~~~
Jack was riding on the back of the galloping Nightmare, making haste towards Pitch.
Jack clung on, fear pounding in his ribcage. The Nightmare soon came to a stop on the hill overlooking Burgess. Jack sucked in a breath at what he saw.
There were Nightmares everywhere.
Jack looked frantically between them all until he saw-
“PITCH!”
Jack darted off on his Nightmare, rushing after the man in question. But there was too much commotion. Pitch couldn’t hear him. There were Nightmares zooming every which way, blocking his way and pushing him back.
“Pitch!”
His voice was drowned out. Pitch could not hear him.
Jack halted his Nightmare from advancing. His eyes shifted back and forth until he caught the color of the Guardians off in the distance.
“Hyah!” Jack cracked the reigns, directing his Nightmare towards them.
“Guys!” Jack shouted, hoping to grab their attention.
“Jack?!”
Jack clumsily landed the Nightmare and hopped off it, rushing towards them.
He met Tooth, North, and Sandman with hugs. When he looked for Bunny, his eyes went wide with what he saw.
Bunny had shrunk into a tiny… bunny.
“Jack! Are you okay?!” Bunny rushed up to him, uncaring that Jack would see him like this.
“Ye-yeah, I’m okay. What happened to you guys?”
North coughed. “You’ve been missing for an entire day, Jack. Easter… while you were gone, Easter was a disaster. They smashed every egg. Crushed every basket. Nothing made it to the surface.”
Jack felt like he could cry. “Oh Bunny, I’m so sorry…”
Bunny sniffled and shook his head, not wanting to think about it.
Sandy stepped forth and quickly scolded Jack. Sand pictures flew over his head a mile a minute.
Jack laughed. “Alright, alright! Sandy, I’m fine, really I’m fine.”
It was then Sandy noticed the Nightmare behind Jack. The one Jack had ridden to get to them.
Sandy brought out his whips and stared the Nightmare down, daring it to move. The other Guardians readied themselves for a fight.
Jack turned and realized who they were drawing weapons for. He ran to get between them. “Wait!”
“Jack, what are you doing?” North asked his swords at the ready.
Jack bit his lip, terrified of their reactions.
“Pitch is my soulmate.”
The group froze, and their eyes went wide.
“WHOT?!” Bunnymund screeched.
“Listen, I’m gonna try to talk to him! Please, I was chosen to be a Guardian. I’ve seen my memories. I had a sister. I saved her. I love children, and I love you guys too, but Pitch- He’s my soulmate. I know he needs to be stopped, but please, let me try. Let me try to talk him down before this gets out of hand, I’m begging you.” Jack felt like crying. He didn’t want to choose between the Guardians or Pitch.
Bunnymund looked aghast, as though he were to say something, but before he could, Sandman walked forward and hugged Jack’s leg.
A tear slipped from Jack’s eye then.
Tooth and North looked at each other before coming to the same conclusion. They too walked forward and enveloped Jack into a hug. Jack squeezed them tight before releasing them.
“if I can’t get through to him, I don’t know what will happen. But hopefully at least… I can buy you some time.”
Jack looked down at Bunnymund, who stared up at him with conflicted green eyes.
Bunny pursed his lips, and Jack braced himself.
“Be careful, Frostbite. And good luck.”
Jack sagged with relief. He got onto his knees and brought Bunny into a hug.
“Thanks, Fluff.”
Thunder and lightning pierced through the sky, interrupting their hug.
Pitch could be seen within the lightning, hovering in the sky on a black cloud of Nightmare sand.
Jack released Bunny and scratched behind his ears. “Don’t look so worried, I’ll be fine, I promise.”
Jack rushed away, hopping onto his Nightmare; grabbing its reigns. “If things go south…”
“We believe in you, Jack,” North said.
The frost spirit nodded and took off.
He quickly approached his soulmate.
“Pitch!”
The Boogieman whirled his head around. “Jack?!”
Jack launched off the Nightmare, right into Pitch’s arms. Pitch held him tight, his hand in his soulmate’s frosty hair.
“Jack- you can’t be here.”
Jack pulled back. “Pitch, please, we can-“ Jack froze when he saw Pitch’s eyes. The sclera was black. He yanked himself out of Pitch’s arms and stepped back.
“What... what happened to you?!”
Pitch’s face wasn’t normal. At first glance, he seemed sorrowful, but when Jack looked closer, Pitch almost looked… numb.
“Nothing, darling. Nothing at all.”
Jack looked around, seeing the chaos unfold around him. The Nightmares ran around town, like an inky black sea on a stormy night.
Jack turned back to his soulmate.
“Pitch, why are you doing this? I’m a Guardian! And we’re together now, so-“
“I have to protect you.”
“What?”
Pitch floated forward, the Nightmare sand swirling beneath him. He reached out a slender hand. His boney fingers caressed the side of Jack’s face.
“I have to protect you.” He repeated.
Jack reached up and touched the boogieman’s hand with his own.
He could feel it. Pitch’s fear. It was a wild sensation. A power they now shared.
“Pitch, why are you so afraid?” Jack whispered.
Pitch said nothing, only staring into blue eyes.
Jack tightened his grasp, but only a little. “You’re afraid… to lose me?”
Jack shook his head. “Pitch, that’s not-“
“I can’t lose you again.” The boogieman reached out with his other hand and grab Jack’s face firmer.
“Pitch-!?”
Ç̷̡̯̪̳̬̹̥̬͖̞̍͆͋̉̔̅̇̓͌͒̓͋̚͝ͅa̸͖̯̪̖̾͑̈́ͅṋ̷͇̟̱̮̹͖̗͗’̸̛͕̙̈́̐͆̾̌̐̾t̷̨͍̩̞̗͂̋̿̑̊̎̅̽́̋̿͑̔ͅ ̶͍̿̓̀͋̈̇̔͆̕͝l̷̼͓̰̩̯͎̪̼̘̱̎̏̉͗̄͋̈́ơ̸̡̨̢̨͙̲̖͇͈̙̣̬͔̩͗̀̂̍̆͑̊̾̒͠s̸͉̲͕͑̔́̄̈̇̾̀͊͋̕͠e̷̹͖̠̟̝̜̼͈̹̖͉͚̩̫̿͊̈́̓̿͜ ̸̱̖̤͖͇̬̳̞̪̫͓̪̗̎͐͛͜͝w̵͖̘͓͈̫͉͙̭̩̍͋͜ǫ̷̛̬͕̪͑̆̊̾̄̊̔̔̌̕͝n̵̻̮̱͓͐’̴̛͕̎͂͒̈̈́͋̋̉͂̈́̅ẗ̵̛̛̙̇̄̈̍͒͘͝͝͠͠ ̵̢̧̡̟͍̙̼̌̉̆͒̿͊̌̂̇l̶̡̯͓̘̮̺͇̮͋̇̈́̔̆͋̔͜ͅo̴̢̺̥̣̘̲͔͖͔̮͉̜̗̖̬̓̉s̴̰̻̝͓̓̎̓̾̿̈͆̇̀̾͗̎͑̕e̷̤̱̳̬̗̰̫̬̽̈́͆͜ ̵̹̗̝̫̹͎̹̲̀͒̂͗̂̓̉̿̃͝ç̴̡̦̼͔̪̳͙̹͑à̴̘̦̫̟̜̗̘̂͋͋̓̽͜ṉ̵̛̀̀̇̇̇̃͌͊̄̈́̓͝͝’̷̢̢̻͇̤̟̥̱̱̣͈̬͛͊t̵̡̝͇̘̆͑̾̈́̂̈́͌̐̉̂͝͝ ̶̧̛̼̭̠̦̈́̿̂̈́̆̔̇̌̊̀̎̋l̴͚̗͍̱͓̜̖̜̖̟̟͔̻̈́͒̽̃͋̍̒̆̉̚o̸̳̙̣̖̯̙͎̓̿͑̍͐̓̾̃̕͜s̵̢̩̎̿̌̐̉̅̕ȅ̴̦̦͚͔̤̫͈̲͈͆̇̋̆̂̄̐̀̇ ̷̹̉̎̇͋̀͒̈́͊͝͝w̴̢̪͖̲̫̭̻̫̻̭̟͚̪̐͌̆͛͂̀̅̀͜͜o̶̘͌̓̿͝n̵̢̦̦̳̠̬̫̥̼̔̃͛͂’̵͙͍̞̆͑̄̾͑̀͐̈ţ̵͉̜͔͙̯̠̟̙̬͍̓̓̓̍̍͑͜͜ͅ ̷̳̈̎̾͌̽͆́̇l̵̢͚͚̮̗̫̠̜͕̝͉̘͖̽͑̐̑͌̓̏̕͠ͅo̴̢̲͔̽͌̕̚ş̵̳̼̗̠̮̦̘̠͎̼̈́̈́̓̄̅̈͗̾̀̽͂̄̀̕͜e̴̢̧̧̼̼̪͚͓̦͆̽͗͌͑̌̓̒̔́̓̕͝ͅ ̶̝̮̮̘̬͍̺͚̅̅͗͌͜c̴̣̭̟̜̿̋ͅą̸͇̦̙̲̹̺̠̤̉̉̃̅̈́͒̔̏͐̄͑̓̕͝n̴̨̤̭̠̫͑͜’̸̨̻̣̤̩̻̦̩͜͝t̴̡͚̯̼̤̺͍̮̻͕͍̪͗̿͑͌̚͝ ̴̢̨̟̩̹̤̺̞̳̼͉̯̮̐͌͜l̷̨̪̖͇̪͓̘̳͇͎̒̿͋̈̃̈́̋͘̕͝ǫ̶̨͇̲͍͓̮̘̤̯̰̞̳̍̈́͗̈́̂̚͘s̴̨̠̹̠̼̬͚͆̀̉̌͗̃͐̇͑͘͘͝͝ȩ̵̢̣̩̠͈̺̼͈̫̩̋͝ ̶̝̳͉̉̀̾͆́̕w̸̨̧̖̫̯̠̹͎͉͉̳͑̌͌̒̽̿͒̓̐̓̾̒o̴̡͍̰͋͆̈̈̓̾̓n̶̨̢̮̮̳͚͍͔͖͖͉̿̔̂̉̈͗͂̈́’̷̪̟͈̮͎̺͓̏͒̍͑͆̚t̵̨̤̖̻̻͉̞̹̳̰̹͎̿ ̵̻̭́̅̾͠͠l̶̛̻̥̦̫̭͎̈́̈̂̀̊́͝͝ơ̶̡͔͓̪̯͖̮̜̟̪̪̜͗̂̾̊̉̓̅̓s̴̢̛̼̟̘̤̈́͑͊͒̌̐̏̈́̎̍͆̕̚͜e̵͚̟͈̦̭̙͕͊͆̂̓̌̈́̒̎̆̅͂̅̕-̸̹̗̞͈͔͈͓̘̯̊͑̉̌͂̒͂̎͜͝
̵̛͖͖̜̱̬̩͈̝̹͈̦̮̦̭̂́͌̏͒̊̇͘P̴̢̠͓̝̪͔͖̹̲̲͓̌͜r̸̗͌̍̆̄̊̿̑͆̕͝o̶̞̳̬̯͖͉̣͉̼̮̝̺̽t̶̨̡̛̛͕͈̦̣̎͒̈́́͑̔̈͘͜͜e̵͇͍̮̲̿͊̋̿̆̒́̾̔̀c̵̭͍͒̊̂̄͒̌̊̌̐̓̈́͝t̸̛̖͇̰̊̈́̉̾͒̑̚,̷͚̹̝̯̖͔̼̲̣͉̻̠̎͝ ̵̬͈͍͎͎̩̜͉͇̝̺̐̌̽̾̑̀̒͌̈́̈̒͌c̸̡̡̥̗͖̭̹̫̹̣̙̺̄̈́ǫ̶͕͕̭̺̲̅̓̓͂̄̇͘͝ͅņ̸̡̧̛͎̦̩̻̲̹̞̖̳̯͊̋͐̓̃̈́͜͜͝ç̶̳̻͖͉̭͕͕̜̦̀̔̂̋̏̓̄̓̍̚͜ê̴̛̬̹͓͈̩͔̣̖̭̞̺̭͎̿̓͛̏̈̎͆͋̏͋͗̌͘͜a̷̠̝̮̟̟̹̻̰̦̳͌̈̉̌̍̓͊͝ḽ̵̳̯̬͙̟̜̅̉̚,̷̧̪͇̝̗̟͔̟̽͗͌̎̏̒̾̅͊̔̄̒́̐̚ ̴̪̮̅̍̓̽͑͌͑̕ṕ̷̡̫̊̍̑̊͂̌͜r̶̡̡̻̼͇͎̣͗̀͂̐o̶͖͈̗͈̬̟̯̭͂͆̄ṱ̶̢͎̳̯͚͖̘̍̍̀̍̎͋́ͅͅę̸͍̠̗̟͓̱̫͎̩̯̄̈̆̔͂̃̍̇͑͆͝͝ͅͅc̵̛̗̼̙͑̒̋̅̈̓͑̿͒͛͒t̵̡͚͉͈̹̦̠̬̺̠͍̙̯͆͊̈́,̴̨̼͉̖̥̉̋ ̵̧̞̭̖͈̬̟̘̞͚̭̣̜͋̇̈̀̂͋̌̈́̅̌̄͜͝ͅc̸͙̮̮̲͕̋͆o̸̧̧̮̗̽̌̅̃͝͝͝n̴̨̢̢̡̙̣̱̰͉̎̑̇͗̌͆͝c̶̛̥̑̒͌͛̐̍̕ę̸̡̭͎͈̣͉͓͍͍̲̤̯̒͌̍̐͋̽̊̓̽͂̈́̉͊̄͜͜͝a̴̢̠̝̟̿̇̏͛͋͒̂̋̽̐̈́l̶̢̢̟͈̯̬̘̖͇͙̹͙͚̣̥͒̿̒̽͘,̷̥̲̫̮̭̞͉͂̇͗̅̋̿ ̸̢̢̨̮͇̪͙͔͎̍͌̔p̴̢̛̺̮̼̣͇̥͑͌̏̈͐͑́̃͑͐̏̿͠ͅr̶̦̣̤̹̬̩̫̖̄̿̑o̴̧̥͖̞̗̥͓̰͓͖͙̔̏̈́̋͐͂ẗ̴̤͍̮̳͕̻͎̰̓̈̕e̵͈͛͊̆̾̃̃̂̑̔̌͘̕c̵̖͉̺̳̱͇͓̽͗͗́̆̋̒̌̏̚̕͜͝t̵̢̨͎̞̟̘̝̭̥̲͖̥͚̫͂ͅ,̷̡̦͇̬͈͓̮̲̹͈͚̟̪͇͓̃͝ ̵̹͎̮̹̼̝̲̳̘̜̳̘̻͑͋c̵̛̱̜̜̳̅̂̔̌̎̎̌o̶̡̻̙̤̻͍̭̥͔͉̩̻̹̹̜̍͆̈́n̵̝̻͎̳̜̭̂̃͆̒c̶̨̧̝͇̳͙͎̫͕͎͕̹̣̭̎̈́̉ḛ̸̜̲͖̬͊̃̌͛̈̌̈̅̇̊̅͝ą̵̡͕̺̹̙͓̺̜̩̙̠̘͎͑̂͠l̸͖͚͎̹̳̹̘̾̓͑̂̿͐̂͐̏̂̈́̃̉̂̕,̴̡͉͇̹͚̑̐̅̍͂̿͐̆̏̊̎͗̚͠͝ ̵̨̧̡̡̠̥̙̭̪̦̙̜͇̬͌̇̕̕͜p̴̢̼̞̠̭͈̦̑̇̔̆͘r̵̭̼͕͍͕͋̌̑͜͜͜o̴͎͇͕̯̼͠ͅͅͅt̵̡̜̖̦̲̙͍̜̫͖͑͌̽̄̌̓̚e̵͚̙̩͓̖̦͂̅̆̋c̷̨̧̱̻̬͔͙̳̎͋̄̃̑͝t̵͎̠͚͉̟͍̥̫̼̳̳͊,̷̘̀̓̎͝ ̸̛͖̳͙̭̲̞̠͚͙̗̜͊̏͌̇̏̅̍̇͝c̷̜̹͕͎̤͐̄̈́̓̓͑͠ȏ̸̖͔̪͓̻̺͚̦̱ñ̴̨͙̻͈̩̦̰̣̫̝̖̈́͆͐̓̑̾̑̑̈́͝ͅͅc̵̥͎̖̆̎̎͑̆̒̒͐̐̉̊͝͠ę̸̡͚͕͈̩̭̘̘̹̼̬̮͒̈̔̉ả̶̭̖̰̱̗͈̠̖̣͉͈̣͆́̐͝l̸̨̡̨͖͈̺͓̠̰̰͑͆̚-̷̡̢̰͓͎̪̳̭̱̮̮͖͉̦̒͌̉͠ ̴̡̼̽̉̌͒̾͝ͅ
Jack tried to pry Pitch’s hands off his face to no avail.
Pitch only tightened his grip.
“You’re hurting me!“ Jack cried, thrashing. “Please, calm down! I’m right here! I’m right here, I’ve always been right here-… right-“
“NO-!”
Jack started to lose consciousness as nightmare sand swirled around them. The last thing he saw was Pitch’s tear-filled gold eyes before everything went black.
~~~
Nightlight jolted awake, finding himself in a cramped storage room. He was injured.
The memory of Kozmotis shoving him in here hastily crossed his vision.
“Hide.”
That’s right… they were on their ship, floating in space. They had been overtaken by Fearlings. Creatures of darkness that made up the empty void of the Cosmos. They had been ambushed, the rest of their crew falling to the swarm.
Koz was supposed to hail for help. Where was he?
Suddenly there was screaming. The shrieks rattled Nightlight’s frame. It was Koz’s voice so overcome with agony.
The spectral boy slammed himself against the door.
“KOZ! KOZ I’M HERE! I’M RIGHT HERE!”
Nightlight could feel Kozmotis’s mind slipping. He was succumbing to the darkness. To the creatures that surrounded them. Nightlight banged against the door once more.
“KOZ!” He screamed his lungs hoarse.
His light flickered. He desperately jiggled the doorknob and continued to attack the door’s lower edge to no avail.
“Koz! Let me OUT!”
Nightlight searched himself, finding his dagger. He thrust it between the door’s wedge and proceeded to kick the bottom furiously. Finally, the wood caved. Nightlight scrambled to push himself through the minuscule opening, escaping from the storage room. He frantically looked in different directions, sensing where Kozmotis was.
Nightlight sprinted; his nerves screaming at him from the injury on his leg, but he could not stop. He had to make it to the main deck. Once he got there, it was too late.
Kozmotis was surrounded. Dark tendrils were already invading his body through every entry point in his face and even trickled into his wounds.
Nightlight was frozen in place at the sight.
Koz turned to him. The man had fear in his glowing gold eyes, and he reached out to Nightlight with one hand, desperate.
“My Light-“ His voice was distorted and weak.
“KOZ!” Nightlight rushed over, jutting his hand out towards him, but he was too late.
Just before Kozmotis was swallowed whole by the shadows, he whispered something only Nightlight could hear.
“I love you.”
~~~
Jack awoke once more. His head was pounding, and he had tears streaming down his face.
The Nightmare he was riding nudged his face with its snout, trying to stir him.
Jack slowly sat up, getting his bearings. Seemed like he had fallen into a garbage bin.
He groaned and rubbed his head while his Nightmare companion helped sit him upright.
“Where’s Pitch?”
The Nightmare gave Jack a look and got down on its knees to help him saddle.
Jack hoisted himself up. “Okay girl, bring me to- HEY!?”
Just then, the Nightmare took off in the complete opposite direction of Pitch.
“Whoah, where are we going?!”
The Nightmare neighed at him, unstopping. Jack could only hold on.
They came to a screeching halt at a house. The lights were dead on the block, and everything was dark. Jack squinted. Somehow, he could see through the blackness. He realized where they were.
“Jamie?”
Jack hopped off his Nightmare and rushed inside. He was shocked to find the other Guardians hauled up in the boy’s room.
“Guys?! What’s going on-?”
Everyone looked devastated.
Jamie was on his bed crying. His toy rabbit was on the floor. Bunnymund was staring at it in shock.
“He doesn’t…” Tooth whispered, her eyes full of tears. Babytooth sat on her shoulder, looking just as forlorn. “He doesn’t believe in us anymore.”
North cursed in Russian. “He was one of the few remaining lights. We came to protect him, but now, the town has been closed off. Pitch has locked us in! We can’t possibly get to the other children now.”
Jack turned to Sandman, who nodded sadly.
Jack turned his head, taking in Jamie’s crying form. The boy looked so alone. Jack bit his lip and looked around the room. His eyes set to the window. He made his way over and pressed his hand to the surface, allowing frost to dance along the glass.
Jack called the wind and allowed the window to creak open, catching Jamie’s attention.
Jack started drawing on the glass. The boy gasped and stood upon his bed, drawing the Guardians’ attention as well. He drew bunnies, fairies, presents, and seashells.
“Whoah…” Jamie whispered in awe.
Jack smiled at the boy’s wonder. He looked down at Bunnymund, who was gazing up at him with surprise. Jack turned his attention to the bunny he drew on the window and held out his hands. He closed his eyes, concentrating.
Within seconds, the frost became corporeal, and a frosty bunny darted across the room.
The Guardians and Jamie gasped and started laughing, trying to catch the adorable snow bunny that ran laps around their heads and over their shoulders. Jamie had finally caught its foot when it exploded into cold flakes of ice.
“Snow?” Jamie asked, confusion painting his features. When a flake landed on his nose, the realization hit him. “Jack Frost.”
“Did he just say-?” North whispered, looking at the other Guardians. Tooth’s mouth was ajar, and Sandy gave an ecstatic thumbs up.
“Jack Frost?”
“Wait, he said it again…” Jack whispered, looking at the other Guardians. “He said- he said my name!”
Jamie turned around and stared; his mouth agape. “Jack Frost!”
Tooth excitedly pushed Jack forward. “He sees you, he sees you!”
“It’s a miracle…” North whispered.
“Well, I’ll be…” Bunny shook his head, disbelieving.
“Can you see me? Can you hear me?” Jack asked, his chest pounding with excitement.
The boy nodded his head with a crooked toothed smile. “You just made it snow! In my room!”
“I know!” Jack said, jumping with excitement.
“You’re real?!”
“Yeah, man! Who do you think brings you all the blizzards and snow days?!”
Jamie seemed excited at this revelation. “What about the Tooth Fairy? And the Easter Bunny, I mean-“
“Real! Real, every one of us is real!”
Bunnymund took that moment to hop up on the bed. Jamie blinked then fell backward with surprise. “WHOAH!”
His eyes darted around the room, taking in the Guardians.
“It is you! All of you!”
The Guardians smiled, overjoyed with the outcome.
Jamie looked down at Bunnymund. “You’re different.”
Bunny’s expression fell and his ears lay flat on his head with annoyance.
Jamie reached out and started petting him. “What happened? You used to be bigger. Can you shrink at will? That is so cool!”
Bunny huffed, crossing his little nubs for arms. “It’s complicated.”
Jack sat down on the side of the bed next to Jamie and Bunny. “Hey, Jamie. I need you to do something for me.”
“Yeah?” The boy looked at him curiously.
“I need you to believe in these guys with all your heart, okay? We’re all here for you.” Jack placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “We’re gonna protect you.”
Jamie blinked, realizing something was wrong. Lighting struck outside, and Jack turned his head. Jamie knew that Jack was going out to face whatever darkness resided out there.
“Jack…”
The frost spirit turned and gave the boy a smile. “You’ll be fine. I promise.”
Before Jack could leave, Jamie threw himself into Jack’s arms, hugging him tightly.
Jack gasped at the warm embrace.
“You have to come back. You have to be fine too, okay?” Jamie said, his voice muffled in Jack’s hoodie.
Jack smiled down at the boy. He was brave. A little light in the darkness.
Jack hugged Jamie back, and the moment he did, he felt a spark in his chest. His hoodie lit up, sparkles of light flowing out of the area where Jamie and Jack’s touch met and pinged around the room.
The lights in the room flickered back on, and the rest of the block’s power returned.
The Guardians watched with awe.
Jack and Jamie pulled away, noticing the glow emitting from Jack’s chest.
“Whoah…” Jamie whispered, his eyes alight with the beauty.
Jack brought a hand to his chest and pulled his hoodie away, looking down at his mark. It was still black, but the area around it glowed a vibrant cyan, alive and burning.
Sandy leaned forward, astonished.
“Jack, what is-?” North asked, just as excited.
Jack looked up and out the window, seeing the swirling darkness blocking out the moon above.
“I know what to do.”
~~~
Pitch was pacing on his cloud, muttering to himself.
“The exits are sealed. The enemies can’t escape. My precious can’t escape…”
“KOZ!”
The name awoke something buried deep within him. With it, came paralyzing fear.
“Light?!”
Pitch turned around and saw Jack on a Nightmare, coming straight for him again.
Pitch’s sclera was still black, but his eyes were as gold as ever. He held out both arms, expecting Jack to jump into them and hold him tight forever, but Jack stopped a few feet in the air above him. Jack’s chest was glowing, and he was hovering on air.
“But I have your staff…!” Pitch whispered. Relief seemed to flow into his face.
“Thank the stars. Darling, forgive me for dropping you. But really, you shouldn’t have struggled. I only wish to protect you.”
“No,” Jack said, his face serious.
“No?”
“You’re the one who needs saving, Pitch.” Jack held up his arms, frost lighting started sparking from his fingers.
Before Pitch could react, Jack zapped the cloud he was standing on, causing the mass to freeze over then burst into pieces.
Pitch shouted with surprise as he fell, summoning a Nightmare to catch him a few feet below.
Jack sped after him.
The two fought. Jack fired beams of ice, while Pitch sent hoards of Nightmares his way. Luckily, because Jack had saved Sandy, there were far fewer Nightmares in Pitch’s arsenal. It was enough for Jack to fight him one-on-one.
“Jack- please, don’t make me fight you. I don’t wish to fight you.”
“Then stop! Why are you attacking the Guardians? They’ve done nothing wrong!”
“They’ll take you from me.”
“No, they know you’re my soulmate! They haven’t imprisoned me, or shunned me- they know I’m a Guardian. They won’t keep me from you.” Jack rushed forward, freezing Pitch’s scythe. “And I won’t let them keep you from me!”
Jack broke Pitch’s scythe in half and aimed more ice bolts at Pitch. To Jack’s shock, Pitch reached out and absorbed the ice magic with his bare hands. Pitch swiped at Jack, casting icicles in his direction.
Jack yelped as he was struck. One icicle smacked against his head, making him dizzy.
His vision blurred, and Pitch’s form split. He was seeing double.
“You think we’ll be safe?” Pitch’s voice echoed in Jack’s mind.
“You think we won’t be pulled apart?”
Pitch rushed forward and grabbed Jack by the chin, holding him up as lightning struck in the clouds behind them.
“We will put you to sleep, once more if we must.”
Jack chocked, glaring at the black eyes that stared at him. “You’re not Pitch!”
Jack grabbed Pitch’s arm; frost trickled down his robes.
“That little trick doesn’t work on us anymore.”
Jack kicked his legs, but then ceased his struggle. He looked at Pitch. His golden eyes couldn’t even be seen anymore.
“Pitch. Koz. Koz please, you have to fight them.”
Tears leaked out of his eyes as he pleaded.
“I know. I know wasn’t there for you for so long. I’m sorry.”
Pitch’s face was smirking; unwavering to Jack’s confession.
“We’ve both become something new now.” Jack coughed, his lungs still cut off from air. “We’ve been reborn. But the shadows- from our pasts…! They still haunt us…”
Pitch’s face was smiling.
Jack snarled, the light in his chest igniting.
“But not for long!”
The light burst from Jack’s chest. Pitch hissed and recoiled, damaged from the blue light.
Jack was aglow; the light refracting from his body like a dozen crystals. Several beams pierced the Nightmare sand surrounding them, instantly purifying it into its gold color.
“NO!” Pitch screeched, the shadows curling around him more furious than before.
Jack rushed forward, his hands glowing brightly. He enveloped Pitch into a tight embrace and pressed his glowing hand to the back of Pitch’s neck where his soul mark resided.
Pitch screamed in agony, the creatures of darkness that plagued his body coiled and burned from the contact.
The sand cloud they had stood on as a platform crumbled and disbursed, and the two of them fell interlocked.
The Guardians were outside and had taken notice.
It was like looking at a comet. Like seeing a meteor fall to the Earth.
In the blaze, Jack held Pitch closer. He could feel Pitch hug him back. Their soul marks were glowing and burning with warmth.
To their shock, they didn’t land on the cold hard ground as they expected. They were caught by golden dream sand, courtesy of Sandy.
Jack looked over to see the Guardians and Jamie rushing towards them.
“Jack! Jack are you alright?” Tooth asked, fluttering his way.
Pitch was cradled in Jack’s arms, seemingly knocked out.
Sandy let them down from the cloud gently onto the plush snow.
“Thank you, Sandy.” Jack said.
The little man tipped a hat his way.
The other Guardians approached. Bunnymund was back in his full form. There appeared to be several other children who rallied behind them.
Jack sat up with Pitch laying in his lap. Jack kept a gentle hand against Pitch’s soul mark. It thrummed beneath his fingers.
Pitch’s eyes fluttered open. They were golden again.
“Jack?”
“Hey,” Jack whispered with a smile, relieved Pitch was alright. He placed his hand against Pitch’s cheek.
“How do you feel?”
Pitch reached up, placing his hand over Jack’s.
“…like myself again.”
Pitch noticed the other Guardians. He swallowed thickly, unsure what to say.
Bunnymund crossed his arms with anger. Sandman seemed surprisingly sympathetic and patient. Tooth and North looked down at Pitch, waiting for him to speak.
Pitch struggled to sit up and Jack helped push him upright.
Pitch clutched his side and looked at Jack. His soulmate nodded in reassurance.
Pitch turned his attention to Tooth.
“I… apologize. For the damage I’ve done,” He looked to Bunnymund. “To both of you.”
Pitch’s eyes flickered back to Toothiana and her little fairy that hovered by her side. “The teeth and your fairies are in my lair. I will release them.”
Pitch stood up with Jack’s help.
“And Bunnymund… I cannot fix what I had done to Easter. After discovering Jack was my soulmate, we unlocked memories together. Memories… that were unpleasant. I had lost Jack. I had lost myself. In the midst of my turmoil, the shadows inside me thought… I thought… since Jack is a Guardian… you would take him from me.”
The Guardians exchanged looks.
“We… wouldn’t…” Tooth hesitated, unsure what to say.
“You would.” Pitch glared at them.
“You had already taken my believers. You had stripped me of my power and chased me away.” Pitch blinked. “Look me in the eye and tell me you wouldn’t have kept Jack from me.”
Bunny, North, and Tooth averted their eyes. Sanderson pursed his lips.
Pitch closed his eyes and shook his head. “Not that I blame you. Why does the Boogieman deserve any happiness? Especially after what I did to all of you.”
Jack raised his eyebrow, unamused. “Pitch, you’re treating them like my parents.”
Pitch threw up his hands. “Well, they might as well be, now that you’re the youngest one of them!”
Jack grabbed one of Pitch’s hands and held it at his side.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
Jamie cocked his head to the side, noticing Jack and Pitch holding hands.
“Uh… Jack? What’s going on?”
Jack flushed and squeezed Pitch’s hands harder.
“Ah- er- you’ll understand when you’re older.”
One of Jamie’s friends came up nervously from behind him.
“Um, excuse me… are those N-Nightmare creatures… still gonna come after u-us?
Everyone turned to Pitch, who shook his head.
“No, they’ll… they’ll never hurt you again.”
The Nightmare Jack had ridden from Pitch’s lair trotted over, huffed at the children, then bowed to them.
The other children backed away a little, but Jamie was brave and stood his ground.
Jack walked over and pet the Nightmare. It nuzzled into his hand.
Jamie walked forward and reached out. The Nightmare leaned down and huffed in Jamie’s face, making him laugh. Jamie wrapped his arms around the Nightmare’s nuzzle, and to everyone’s surprise, the Nightmare’s sand transformed into swirls of half golden sand and half black sand, a perfect fusion.
The Guardians were surprised at the Nightmare’s new look.
Sandman walked forward and investigated the creature himself, placing a hand on his snout just as Jack had done. The creature nodded respectfully to the Sandman, showing its allegiance of neutrality.
“Aster,” Pitch started hesitantly. “I know not of how I could make up for the destruction of Easter, but… I truly believed in my shadow blinded stupor that I had to stop at nothing to solidify my assurance that Jack would stay by my side.”
Bunnymund scowled and pointed a finger at Pitch. “I’m not letting you off that easy, ya no good playah. I don’t care if you’re Jack’s soulmate. You destroyed my holiday and almost destroyed us.”
“How do we solve this?” Tooth asked, looking at North.
North could tell something was different from Pitch. He stepped forward and clasped Bunnymund on the back of his shoulder.
“Pitch! Why don’t we call in… three years of servitude. You help Bunny with Easter.”
“Beg your pardon?!”
“WHOT?!”
Pitch and Bunnymund were aghast at the suggestion.
Jack started laughing. “I’ll help too, seeing as I missed out this year.”
“Oh no, I don’t want you two anywhere near my Warren!”
Tooth smiled, hugging Bunny’s arm on his other side. “Come on Bunny! We’ll all help you too.”
Bunny grumbled, his ears falling flat on his head. “Fine, but I’m keeping a close eye on you, Pitch.”
Just then, the Moon’s light broke through the clouds.
“Manny?!” North asked with excitement.
The Guardians and Pitch all looked up at the moon, as though it were speaking. Jack could not hear.
“PREPOSTEROUS!”
Jack jolted at Pitch’s sudden outburst.
Bunnymund started laughing hysterically.
“HIM? That’s! Oh! Funniest joke I’ve eva heard, really. Pitch?! A Guardian?!”
“Wait what?” Jack asked, looking at Tooth and North for answers. Sandy was staring at Pitch with the widest smirk ever adorned on his chubby face.
“The Man in the Moon suggests that Pitch could become a Guardian one day, now that we know you’re his soulmate!” North bellowed, his eyes alight with excitement. He was actually considering the possibility.
Pitch crossed his arms, still appalled by the idea. “Absolutely not.”
“Well, we have a long way to go for that, anyway.” Tooth said.
“What’s a Guardian?” Jamie asked.
“AH!” North shouted. One of the Yeti that had appeared for the battle earlier walked up to North with the giant Guardian Book they had brought out the other day.
North smiled at Jack. “We should make it official, no?”
The frost spirit looked up at his soulmate. Pitch smiled down at him and nodded in approval.
Jack looked over at Jamie. He looked a lot like his younger sister.
He would do anything to protect them all.
~~~
He was falling. His light was fading. The wind whistled in his ears as he fell through the atmosphere.
He struggled to open his eyes, watching the Nightmare ships above him disperse into sand.
The spectral boy turned around, twirling in the air. His lover fell beneath him.
“Koz-“ His voice was hoarse. “Koz!”
Nightlight swam through the air, diving for the fallen general.
He grabbed hold of the man and attempted to wake him, to no avail.
Nightlight hissed as the shadows that clung to his beloved burned his hands, squealing in fury.
The man was out cold, unwaking in their harsh descent.
The ground approached. Nightlight closed his eyes and held Koz closer, bracing for impact.
There was immense pain as their bodies fell through rock; tumbling into a deep, deep cavern.
When they hit the bottom, Nightlight saw spots in his vision. He shook his head, trying to gain his bearings.
They were in a bottomless cavern, an indent carved so deep in the Earth, light could barely filter through from whence they came.
Nightlight blinked away the rising dust and coughed, feeling his body weakening. He looked at his hand. His light was fading.
He was spooked out of his despair as the man beneath him hacked his lungs up fitfully.
“Koz?” Nightlight asked, trying to hold him steady.
The inured man growled and scratched at Nightlight’s face, causing him to cry out in pain.
“Koz, please!”
Kozmotis growled and thrashed like an animal, unresponsive to Nightlight’s plea.
“I know you’re still in there!”
Golden tears streamed down Kozmotis’s face, but his eyes were unseen. Just pure black.
Nightlight sniffled, glowing tears of his own falling from his lashes. They were going to die down here.
The general suddenly reached for his sword, ready to attack. Nightlight swiftly took up his own knife blade and raised it high, mind blank of consequence.
Kozmotis snarled, and Nightlight screamed in despair as their blades struck their target’s heart.
The next Nightlight opened his eyes, he was surrounded in utter darkness. It moved around him as though it were alive. The pressure felt suffocating. Before he could struggle, his hand bumped into a body beside him. It was Koz.
“Kozmo?” Nightlight asked, his lips chapped, his voice faint. The man beside him opened his eyes. They were gold. His gold.
Nightlight gasped and the two pulled each other closer. They sobbed in each other’s warm embrace. The creatures of darkness that possessed Kozmotis’s body tightened, intending to snuff out their flames.
Nightlight, in a spout of ferocity, ignited his light, forcing the darkness to recoil away.
Kozmotis shook his head. “My Light, don’t. Your strength- your power… you’ll fade away!” He croaked, clutching Nightlight in fear.
“Koz,” Nightlight whispered, forcing Koz to relax and lay next to him on the cold floor of his beloved’s heart. “I’m here, Koz. I’m not leaving you.”
“No, you must. You have to. Please, you have to leave they’ll kill you. You’ll burn out protecting me.”
“I’d rather die than leave you like this,” Nightlight replied.
Kozmotis cried, clutching Nightlight’s wrists for dear life. Nightlight wiped away his soulmate’s tears with a smile.
“I knew you were still in here. I knew you would still fight. My Koz never gives up.”
“You came for me. Like you said you would…” Koz whispered. “But at what cost?”
The general curled further in on himself, keeping Nightlight flush with his armored body. “I can’t lose you. If I lose you, it’s all over. I won’t have anything to fight for. I’ll succumb to them. Their whispers. I’ll perish here. I’ll never be the same.”
“It is the law of the universe that we change, Kozmo.” Nightlight whispered. “But our bond will never break. Never. No matter what life, I will always return to you. Across the universe, if I must.”
Fresh tears of gold rolled down Kozmotis’s cheeks as Nightlight continued to fade; his lover’s warmth growing colder.
“I should have been more careful. Had I not been vulnerable, had I not been infected-“
Nightlight coughed, his light flickering in pain.
Kozmotis screamed as his mind toiled in shambles.
Nightlight scooted closer, shushing him before leaning in for a kiss. Kozmotis calmed, sagging as his lover’s kiss soothed him like a balm over a festering wound. Nightlight released the man’s face, and the two interlocked their hands. Their foreheads touched, and they closed their eyes.
“Nightlight…” Kozmotis cried.
“Listen to me Koz. Gather your strength. Overcome this darkness. I’ll stay as long as I can, okay?”
Kozmotis shook his head, his nose nuzzling into the spectral boy’s cheek. “Nightlight… I’m scared.”
“I know…” Nightlight whispered. “But you’re gonna be fine. When you feel lonely, think of all the fun we’ve had instead, okay?”
“What if… what if I don’t remember you?”
“You will.” Nightlight smiled. “I love you, Koz. I love you so much.”
Koz looked into his soulmate’s pale blue eyes. He could see thousands of stars flickering out within them. “I love you too, Nightlight.”
The two fell asleep side by side. Over time, the warm blue light of the spectral boy diminished burned out from the strain. And Kozmotis, consumed with grief, was engulfed by the shadows; left in that deep dark pit, utterly alone.
~~~
Jack awoke, gasping in shock. He found himself laying against Pitch, who was looking down at him knowingly.
They met eyes, and black tears streamed down Pitch’s face.
He reached out and caressed Jack’s cheek with his palm. “My Light…” He whispered.
“Koz…” Jack leaned into his palm and closed his eyes.
“You came back to me.”
Jack and Pitch were laying side by side on a giant bed in Pitch’s lair. Their fingers were interlocked, and their eyes were half-lidded.
Pitch blinked, thinking back to their past lives as Kozmotis and Nightlight. When his beloved had been sucked into his heart and kept him alive, kept him company, and gave him comfort.
Pitch reached out and brushed the back of his fingers down Jack’s face. “Mm. We laid together, just like this, so long ago.”
Jack blinked slowly. “You were in so much pain.”
“You took my pain away,” Pitch whispered, staring into Jack’s eyes.
“I can’t believe… I forgot you.” Jack said, frustrated with himself.
“I didn’t remember you either,” Pitch replied, pained by the words. "Those lives were so long ago, the past may fade from our minds, but the memories are engrained into our marks in our very souls. Only together, may we remember.”
Jack chuckled. “Tooth is probably jealous of our capacity for memory.”
“Perhaps she’ll collect skin containing soul marks now.” Pitch retorted, annoyed that the fairy was brought up.
Jack made a face of disgust. “Ew- Pitch, what the hell?”
“It’s just a possibility.” Pitch shrugged with a smirk.
Jack pinched him. “Don’t be gross, we’re having a moment.”
“Apologies, darling.”
Silence stretched between them.
“Pitch…”
“Hm?”
“I don’t want things to end like they did last time.”
Pitch saw tears trailing down Jack’s cheeks. He reached out and caught them before they could freeze.
“I don’t want things to end at all.”
Pitch closed his eyes and pulled Jack ever closer; his chin resting over the frost spirit’s head.
“They won’t ever. I told you, Jack. I’m never going to let you go. Never again. I promise.”
Jack shifted out of Pitch’s hold to stare up at him with his big blue eyes.
“Things are different now. The shadows are part of me now, as is your frost. You saved me. We’ve overcome the thing that ended our lives previously. We are invincible.”
Jack smirked. “If only I had known glow-sticks lasted longer in the fridge.”
Pitch blinked then smiled and shook his head. “You silly snowflake.” Their lips met, and they allowed themselves to get lost within each other.
Pitch sat up and leaned over Jack to get better access to his mouth, and Jack reached up to caress the mark on the back of Pitch’s neck, making the man sigh with bliss. The two continued to make out, Jack groaning between breaths as their session started to get heated.
Finally, the two broke away and caught their breath. Pitch laid against Jack’s chest, right over his soul mark, as the two came down from their kissing-high; just listening softly to the calming breaths that tickled the air.
“I love you, Pitch,” Jack said aloud.
Pitch smiled “I adore you, my little light.”
“Do you always have to talk like you're reciting Shakespeare?”
Pitch chuckled. “I love you too, Jack.”
~~~
End