Protector of Lost Children

| Chapter III |

Hello, Readers! I have a real treat for you today! Some of you may remember what this story once was, and some of you are new, but I can guarantee that whichever category you're in, you couldn't possibly see this coming! I hope you enjoy! Please Comment, Vote, and Follow!

~CSP2708~

| Chapter 3 || To Stop Pitch |

"He approached me at my home, trying to convince me to join him. Jack sent him away, but he will be back."

The Guardians all fell silent, turning to the person who'd just spoken. Lupa stood tall, her back straight and posture set with a confidence that they hadn't seen before. Her bottom lip trembled only slightly, but that was to be expected.

As they all turned their attention to her, her posture changed. She withdrew, hunching to make herself seem smaller. Her eyes wavered, and suddenly, rolled back in her head. The Guardians remained frozen, staring at the girl as she fell to the ground, hitting the wooden planks with a solid thump! Their eyes lowered in sync as she fell.

At the sound of contact, they all flinched.

"Whoops," Jack said.

Tooth flew over, her wings beating in a steady rhythm. "Oh, the poor thing! She must've been completely overwhelmed!"

Jack raised one of his eyebrows. "People are always overwhelmed or underwhelmed. Why can't people just be whelmed?" he said with a small smile, quoting a TV show he'd once seen when spying in Jamie's room. It had been an interesting show.

Tooth struggled to lift the girl, completely unamused by Jack. "Come help me get her to the couch," she ordered.

Bunny hopped over, sliding his paws under Lupa's arms. After depositing her on the couch, Bunny turned to North. "So, if Pitch really is back, what are we going to do? I mean, if what we did six years ago didn't work, how do we know what we do this time will actually be permanent?"

North brought his large hand up to scratch his chin. "Don't know. Let's ask Manny."

All five Guardians turned to the large full moon shining through one if the skylights. It grew brighter, casting a mysterious glow over the room.

"Ah! Right on time, Manny!" North's jovial voice cut through the air. "What must we do about Pitch?" he asked.

Manny's light shone a little brighter, and the heart rates of each of the guardians sped up, anticipating the answer. How would they stop Pitch this time? Could he be stopped? It seemed, over the years, he was getting stronger and stronger, because it took less and less time for him to recover. If they defeated him now, who's to say he won't just come back? The Guardians' minds were in turmoil. Was this to be their fate? To stop Pitch every time he rose? It would be an endless cycle of good and evil.

Manny's voice suddenly permeated the air. "You were able to stop him before, but nothing lasts forever. Now, I believe, is the time for you to learn of his past, so that you may secure your future."

His light shone down on a separate section of the floor than the Guardians' crest, bringing a different crystal into the light. This crystal was glowing blinding white. Jack stared on in awe, having never seen Manny pull a crystal from the floor. The other Guardians weren't as impressed, as they'd seen Manny do this many times, but they were all still shocked, as they'd never seen the second crystal before.

"In the early days, Pitch Black was known as a humble man by the name of Kozmotis Pitchiner. He was a general, a man dedicated to his duty. As High General, he led the Golden Armies, his one goal – capturing and locking away the Fearlings that ruled the shadows."