Miles To Go Before I Sleep

The Magic Of Fun

The Magic of Fun

...

"That's it," Jack breathed in realisation. "That's my centre."

Jamie frowned up at him in confusion, having absolutely no idea what he was on about or what it had to do with him being scared. But the way Jack straightened with a smile on his face was reassuring, and so he allowed himself to try and relax. Jack would protect him. There was nothing to be scared of if he and the other Guardians were there.

"So what do you think, Jamie?" Pitch asked. "Do you believe in the Boogiema-"

"Sounds like somebody could use a fun flake," Jack interrupted, a single dainty snowflake twirling around his fingers. He glanced at Jamie, winking before letting a small breeze carry the flake over to the man of shadows.

"What-?" Pitch started to ask but fell silent as the snowflake landed dead on the centre of his nose. Blue sparkles erupted from the point of contact and for one blissful second it looked as though it had worked; a smile starting to tug at the Nightmare King's lips, his eyes lighting up in a way none of them had ever seen.

But just as soon as the change occurred it was gone again, replaced by a pained hiss and an infuriated growl. Pitch tried to wipe the residual magic from his face but it was impossible. The Guardians, Jack and Jamie watched in mild horror and fascination as their assailant looked like he was trying to claw himself apart. With barely a movement, the Boogieman retreated into the shadows with an air of finality. He didn't reappear.

"Um… what just happened?" Jamie was the one to ask, although the others looked just as clueless as him.

"Wasn't that one like the one you used on me in the Warren?" Bunny looked over at Jack.

Jack nodded, a frown on his face. "They're supposed to… Ooooh," he laughed, although it really wasn't something to laugh about.

"What?" Tooth asked.

"See, those snowflakes make people more joyful and make them want to have fun," Jack explained.

"Yes, I'd figured after what happened in Warren with Sophie," North agreed.

Jack tried not to wince at the memory of what had occurred after that. "Well, joy and fun kill fear, and since Pitch harnesses fear – may as well be fear…"

"Ooooh," they chorused.

"So, um, does this mean we won?"