Dead || Jack Frost

Twenty

Thunder crashed and all of them jumped in surprise. Bunny out out a yelp, little tail twitching. Dia jolted, head turning automatically towards the noise. High in the sky above them stood Pitch. The darkness of storm clouds were converging around him as he hovered in the air. Swirling black sand beneath his feet. Dia shivered slightly with fear. He couldn't help it. It was bleeding.

Jack took a decisive step forwards, one hand gripping his staff. "Get Jaime out of here", he ordered as the wind picking him up. Dia watched as the white haired boy flew towards the looming black sand. He wanted to follow him, but at the same time he was scared of moving.

"Be careful Jack", North called after him. He turned and began hurrying Jaime and the other guardians up the street. Dia allowed himself to be swept along. His mind on the boy in the sky.

Bunny led them. His little form hopping quickly with Tooth and Jaime on his heels. North was hobbling along behind them, his sword acting as a cane. "This way!" Bunny called. "Oh no! Dead end. Other way, other way!" He hopped to turn but the other alley was blocked by a parked truck. There was no where left to go but back the way they'd came.

Suddenly something blue and white fell from the sky. Dia reacted and caught Jack just before the winter spirit crashed. The impact sent them both tumbling for a moment but there was no damage. "Jack!" Jaime cried as Jack groaned. Dia pulled him up. The winter boy leaning on him as Dia pulled an arm over his shoulders.

"Ouch", Jack groaned as the guardians all gathered round him. "Thanks for the catch".

"We're even now", Dia joked as he pulled Jack to his feet.

"That was good try Jack. A for effort", North grinned as he patted them on the backs.

"He's stronger", Jack huffed. "I can't beat him". More thunder and lightning crackled in the sky. The light illuminating the alleyway in short flashes. Pitch's laughter bounced around them as his shadow drifted across the walls. Dia tenses and gripped Jack tighter. The winter boy standing straighter and holding his staff out protectively.

"Aw. All this fuss over one little boy", Pitch's disembodied voice echoed around them. "And still he refuses to stop believing". His shadow drifted over the walls and Dia's head turned to keep up with the movement. "Very well. There are other ways to snuff out a light". A shadowy hand reached out and one by one, the street lights shattered and fizzled out.

"If you want him, you're going to have to go through me", Bunny grunted s he hopped forwards. His little form twitching as he held up little paws.

"Look how fluffy you are", Pitch teased. A shadow hand reaching across the floor to scratch at Bunny's fur. "Would you like a scratch behind the ears?"

Bunny fled back and hopped up into North's hand. "Don't you even think about it".

"I can't tell you how happy it makes me to see you all like this", Pitch laughed. "You look awful". As he spoke nightmares began advancing down the alley. Steam driving from their noses as they snorted. There was no way out. They were trapped. Dia let go of Jack to wrap two scarves around his fists.

Jaime shuffled backwards. "Jack", his voice was small. "I'm scared". Jack knelt down before the boy, hand resting comfortingly on his shoulder.

"I know, I know. But you're going to be alright. We're going to have a little fun instead". Jack blinked at the words coming from his mouth. Eyes widening as an idea came to mind. "That's it! That's my centre!" Jaime frowned in confusion. Next to them, Dia's eyes widened as he realised was Jack was thinking.

The nightmares were still advancing. Pitch on the back of the biggest one, a smug smirk on his face. "What do you think Jaime? Are you afraid of the boogeyman?" His words were cut off with a grunt as a snow ball hit him in the face. Dia let out a surprised shriek of laughter. Jaime and the guardians began laughing. Jack chuckling as another snowball formed in his hand.

"Dia", he called. "Can you create rose petals at will?"

"Yeah", Dia grinned. "Want a distraction?"

"Please", Jack batted his eyelashes, causing Dia to laugh. Then he turned to Jaime. "Let's go and get your friends. Ready Dia?"

Dia shook out his feet, rolling his shoulders as he felt the power build. "One", he counted. The pressure increasing in his chest. "Two". Behind him, Jack grabbed Jaime by his pyjama top and bent his legs in preparation. "Three". Dia and Jack both jumped at the same time. As soon as Dia landed, rose petals exploded outwards from his feet in a colourful burst. Pitch, who had only just gotten the snow from his eyes, cried out in surprise as his vision was once again blinded. The petals covering the alley in and array of colours. By the time Pitch could see, there was no one there. Only a ice trail between the nightmares showed the escape. The boogeyman cursed.

Dia let out a excited whoop of laughter as he slid down the street. Ice spreading out before them as Jack flew ahead, his magic sparkling around him like blue snowflakes. Jaime was yelling with laughter, the guardians all joining in as they slid after Jack. Their makeshift sleighs of pans and boxes taken from the alley working surprisingly well. Jaime had a wooden box he had found. The boy perched on the back and hanging on for dear life as Jack led them round town. Poor Bunny had found a wok and was spinning around in it like a hamster wheel. North and Tooth had found trash can lids. While Dia was hanging on to a metal tray.

Dia screamed as Jack conjured the ice up into a upside down loop. The sleds going airborne for a second before thudding down on the ice. Dia's feet touched the floor and bursts of petals exploded behind them. Jack laughed at the sight. "Jaime!" He called down. "Where do your friends live?"

Unedited