*Ahem*
I regret Nothing.===
FrostLight flew through the sky towards their meeting place. For the last couple of months, he, Sandy, and Pitch had been meeting up every week to discuss their next moves. They had agreed that they could change some things. Small minor things, like first meetings in FrostLight's case.
Today, they were going to discuss the upcoming battle. Pitch had been doing a rather good job in keeping the fearlings at bay, having them instead focused on gathering strength and unbeknownst to them, straight towards Sandy who was making sure that the number of fearlings did not exceed what Pitch needed in case of tipping the balance.
FrostLight landed on top of the mountain peak, not too far away from Santoff Claussen. As always, he was the first there, not really by choice. It was just convenient to meet up close to the site of most of the conflict. Or where the most activity happened. It was also due to the fact that unlike Pitch and Sandy, FrostLight had decided to stay put and watch over the village.
He pouted, waiting for his companions to arrive. Though the first ones to do so were not who he was expecting, but they weren't unwelcome either. He quite enjoyed the company of the moonbeams. They were fellow light spirits, one's that he could fully understand and who understood him. While they were made of moonlight, and he of starlight, they still held a kind of kinship.
FrostLight chuckled lightly as a moonbeam nudged at him, attempting to get him to move and play with them. He smiled at them, blinking apologetically to convey his message that he could not play yet. They seem to dim and slow but then they all dashed off, confusing the immortal child greatly.
"Nightlight." A voice called from behind him, making him flinch and whip around, his spear at the ready for any attack, only to blink in surprise at the figure in front of him. She was a tall woman, just as tall as Pitch with long ebony black hair that flowed down her back and framed her slender face, her long green robes fluttering in an invisible wind before tapering off as if they were made of clouds.
She was a face he had not seen in a long while. "Seraphina." The boy marvelled, blinking in awe as he lowered his spear.
"So you know of me?" She wondered, her eyebrow quirked, face almost emotionless but he could see the deep rooted sadness in her eyes as well as the spark of curiosity. "Has Manifred told you of me?"
Well , he thought, this didn't happen before. Truth was, Nightlight had only met her a couple of times, and that was after the gang had Tooth on their side. He fidgeted with his staff for a moment, worrying his lip as he stared at her, contemplating what to do next.
But before he could muster up the words, she spoke again. "Or is it that you have memories that are not supposed to be yet." That made the spectral boy stiffen and shut his mouth with an almost audible click as he blinked up at her.
She sighed after a while, shaking her head before looking up at the moon that was now high in the sky, shining down brightly at them. "Manifred and I sensed the shift in time. We do not know why or how but we suspect you to have something to do with it." Her eyes softened before turning to face the boy. "Tell me, Nightlight. Was it so bad then, that you came back in time?"
Instantly the spectral child started to shake his head. Casting his eyes low so as not to meet her gaze. "It wasn't by choice, Seraphina. We don't even know what happened..."
She sighed, looking back up at the moon. "Then I trust that you will attempt to keep the timestream steady?"
"We will do our best."
Silence fell over them for a moment. "It's good to see you again..." Seraphina said before disappearing in a swirl of snow and wind.
It didn't take long for Sandy to arrive, followed shortly after by Pitch who looked more exhausted than usual. They all shared events that had happened, then shared their next moves.
Pitch was going to infiltrate the Djinni that night and scour through Ombric's books like the last time as the wizards were to go on their trip the following day. FrostLight was going to stay close to the village, keep an ear out and prepare the reindeer for takeoff. Sandy was going to do his best to keep away the fearlings from the cave FrostLight was going to lead Katherine towards during the rescue until it was time for Pitch to arrive while FrostLight went to the Lamadary.
They had a plan. They were going to stick with it no matter what. Seraphina and MiM were observing them after all. And he, both Jack and Nightlight, did not want to disappoint either. He however did not mention Seraphina's short visit to either of his companions.
Pitch had gone quiet after a while. Unmoving, his eyes unfocused before he sighed deeply and turned to face the moon. This made the two Guardians face the shade, a questioning look in their gazes.
"This has been the longest span of time when my mind is clear... no voices are whispering and I can actually hear my true thoughts..." It was quiet, but the silence of the mountain peak made it sound clear in the soft breeze that flowed.
"I do not know if it is because the two of you drive them away, or because in the future I have learned of a way to temporarily chase them off myself." Pitch continued, turning to face the two. "I can not remember much of my life before I became the nightmare king, only bits and pieces here and there- the fearlings ensured that when I truly became the Boogeyman. But I know I was once a great man with a loving family." He admitted, crossing his arms in a defensive manner.
"I do not remember their faces, nor their names..." the shade turned to look at his companions, a small flicker of genuine pain in his eyes. "But spending time with the two of you- seeing you interact in that familial manner, even if briefly, brings up the feelings once deeply buried by the fearlings. And I..." he trailed off, choking back his words.
A small gentle hand came to rest on the shade's shoulder, making him look into gentle amber gold eyes. Sandy smiled. He didn't say anything but the meaning behind it was true and genuine.
FrostLight crossed the distance between them as well, placing a hand on the shade's arm. "My memories may be hazy and in pieces at the moment, but I do remember you before all of this happened. You were truly a great man, Pitch. But you're also a victim in this tragedy, or have you forgotten our conversation in the Antarctic that Easter?"
Pitch didn't say a word, so FrostLight took it as a chance to continue speaking. "I don't know what had been going through your head at the time, maybe I never will. But I do know you were genuine. Deep down, your heart still beats with a sorrowful longing. And I can understand that."
:Now that we have come to know you, and you us, what is there to say we can not change the future for the better? A future where we are no longer alone.:
Pitch couldn't help but scoff lightly, averting his gaze to his feet. "You sound like you care."
"We do care, we always did. We just never had the chance to show you before. You were kind of trying to kill us." Sandy laughed at that, nodding in agreement to the astral boy, making the shade break a small smile.
"You told me once that you longed for a family. So what do you say?" FrostLight said, giving Pitch a playful smirk. "Want to be part of this strange family?" He offered.
:We don't have much, we won't admit it much, but we are a family.: Sandy added, reaching out a hand for the shade to hold.
It took him a moment to comprehend the offer before smiling a soft and genuine smile before reaching out to take hold of their hands. "Gladly." They were together now, and nothing was going to keep them apart, not for long. And they were going to pave a path to a brighter future. Not alone, but together. As a family.
===
LOOK THE TEMPTATION IS TOO STRONG
I very much am a sucker for found family, and with what Pitch said in the Movie and his Backstory in the books, I JUST WANT THIS MAN TO HAVE A SECOND CHANCE.
YOU ARE READING
changing future: book 1 through time
FanfictionBook 1 of Changing Future. After the battle of Easter 2012, the Guardians all retire to the Pole for a party. But, unknownst to the Guardians, two of their own went to confront Pitch, only to find themselves in a tough situation then... somehow back...