The Wandering Flame

Chapter 7: The Nightmare King

Disclaimer: I don't own ROTG

*Ushanka= Russian fur hat with ear flaps that can be tied in various fashions

*Черт = what I believe is Russian for "Damn" or "Dammit"

Recap: Well, his purpose and rejecting the Guardians could wait. Right now, he just wanted to make the worry in the summer spirit vanish completely and help the nice - albeit eccentric - Guardian who apparently never took a break.

'Don't worry Sunshine; everything'll be okay.' he thought, sending her a reassuring smile.

She smiled back, the tension in her body relenting to some extent.

Rose

North threw open the doors to the stables, his fluffy Russian hat already firmly pulled onto his big head. It smelled strongly of horses and hay.

Jack hadn't left her side since her outburst. She didn't blame him. She surprised herself with her actions, but it was too late to take it back. Water slipping through her fingers.

While she appreciated his concern, she couldn't help but dislike the pitied looks he threw her. She wasn't made of glass. Rose didn't need protecting.

She'd been careful to avoid close proximity to Bunnymund for obvious reasons. Toothiana and her fairies already went ahead, taking the initiative to protect her palace.

The summer spirit was already flaming, enraged by whoever dared bring misfortune to the ever-busy spirit. It snuffed out when North surprised her with a heavy fur coat and a matching *ushanka, tossing them in her face at the last second while ordering around his workers to prep the sleigh. She almost singed them out of surprise.

"A coat? And... is this an *ushanka?"

"Yes, and yes. To stay warm when go outside. Don't want to see you turning blue like last time. Feel free to keep!"

Rose smiled, touched at the thoughtful gifts. In fact, she was rather certain it was the first gifts she'd ever received. Pulling them on, she discovered they were much warmer than she expected; and comfier, too.

The coat had some wiggle room so it wasn't too tight and she could maneuver around in it easily. She tied the ear flaps of the ushanka under her chin to further protect her from the elements.

She turned to Jack, giving him a spin in her new articles of clothing. "How do I look?"

He stared at her slack-jawed, ice-blue eyes wide. She supposed it was a good sign. The winter sprite realized what he was doing and coughed into his hand awkwardly.

"It looks... good. Yeah, pretty good. Kinda dumb, but I guess you pull it off."

Rose rolled her eyes. "Wow, thanks Frosted Tips. I guess I'll take that as a compliment. Thank you, North."

He took a moment to grin at her, while Jack started complaining about their mode of transportation after gawking at her new attire. Boy, was he in for a surprise.

"Hey, North! North! I told you, I'm not going with you guys! There is no way I'm climbing into some rickety old..."

The summer spirit beside him smirked when the pounding of hooves and beastly snorting grew louder.

"... sleigh."

North's reindeer fought against some of the yetis keeping them in line, the massive horned creatures snorting and bucking at each other, one almost hitting Jack out of blind aggression. North busied himself in calming them down. Jack laughed in excitement at the beasts, also gaping at the sleek ride which came into view.

Rose crossed her arms and nudged Jack in the side. "What was that you were saying about a rickety old sleigh?"

He rolled his eyes, playfully nudging her back. "Alright, so maybe it's not what I expected."

North stood on the other side of Rose while Bunnymund stood opposite of Jack. Without really acknowledging the jolly man's presence, Jack opened his mouth in response.

"Okay, one ride, but that's it. C'mon Rose!"

She giggled a little when he practically dragged her in with him, nimbly leaping into the cushioned seats. North grinned at his remark and followed suit. Sandy took the back seat.

"Everyone loves the sleigh," North commented proudly, "Bunny, what are you waiting for?"

"I think my tunnels might be faster, mate. And um, and safer."

The bunny was avoiding eye contact, desperately looking for a way out. North was having none of it, grabbing him by the scruff.

"Ah, get in! Buckle up!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, where's the bloody seatbelts?!"

"Hah! That was just expression!" the Russian laughed, taking up the reins and turning to a Yeti. "Are we ready?"

The yeti fervently shook his head no, but North took little heed of his warnings.

"Good! Let's go!" he cracked the reins, urging the reindeer forward. "Hyah!"

Bunnymund made the most pathetic sounds the summer spirit had yet to hear as he clutched to his seat for dear life. He, Jack, and Sandy were thrown back into their seats whereas Rose stayed in place somehow, grinning madly.

"Whoo-hoo!"

She heard Jack laugh, too. The thrilling stomach-drop started manifesting in her stomach, a tell-tale sign of greater excitement in store. Rose couldn't wait for what happened next! She absolutely loved North's driving!

"Out of the way!" North yells, heading the sleigh down a luge-like track.

"Ohhhhh no!" Bunnymund cries, evidently terrified of the wild ride.

The jolly spirit cracked the reins while the sleigh plummets in a near vertical drop.

"Slow down, slow down!"

Rose smirked. "What's the matter, Floppy Ears? Scared of a bit of height?"

Bunnymund sputtered. "Floppy Ears?! And I'm not scared, Sheila! Especially not of heights-"

The sleigh entered a corkscrew, causing the bunny to scream.

"I hope you like loopty loops!" North called.

"I hope you like carrots."

"What was that about not being scared?" the Summer Spirit taunted, a smirk on her colorful lips.

"Shut up!"

Sandy threw his arms up ecstatically. Rose looked over and copied him, grinning at her fellow spirit. She and Jack cheered as they raced off the ramp to sail through the air, most of the unstable jolting and bouncing around gone.

North and Rose laughed loudly while Jack whooped, standing up out of excitement.

The Summer Spirit hardly paid the guffawing winter sprite any heed, too wrapped up in her own enjoyment. She still hardly batted an eye when he hopped up onto the edge of the sleigh.

"North, this is amazing!" she called out, nearly hopping out of her seat.

"Glad you like it!" the jolly man laughed.

Then she heard a scream and turned to see Jack gone from the sled. She frowned, confused. Couldn't he fly?

She watched Bunnymund gasp in shock and peer over the side of the sleigh. Rose followed, glimpsing Jack lounging on the sleigh's skid.

"Awww... you do care."

"Ah, rack off you bloody show pony!" the Easter bunny snapped, glowering as he hopped back into his seat next to Rose.

She quirked a brow at him. "Really? Don't you think that was a bit sophomoric?"

"Sorry, that word isn't in my vocabulary Sunshine," he teased, winking at her.

The Summer Spirit rolled her eyes, nudging him in the side with her elbow. North announced he knew a shortcut and to hold on, which caused Bunnymund to stress further about the situation. She curiously watched North bring up a snow globe to his face and say Tooth Palace.

He then threw it into the air, creating a swirling portal to their desired destination.

"Wow... that is so cool!" she thought excitedly.

Maybe North could let her try it out sometime. It looked so fun! Plus it'd make it easier for her to visit him instead of risking her life out in the freezing North Pole. Perhaps he could give her a supply of them if she asked nicely?

"Hyah!" North urged his reindeer faster, dashing through the portal and ending up at Tooth Palace.

Swarms of black things poured out of the palace, headed towards them. She heard North's utterance of confusion. She was puzzled as well.

Some of the black swarm threatened to hit them. Sandy created an umbrella to defend himself, while she blasted the ones with her fire if she found them getting too close. They had the consistency of... sand.

"What's happening, North?!" she called, spotting several of Toothiana's fairies whizzing by in what seemed to be fear.

"I don't know!"

Jack saw something she didn't, and shouted, "They're taking the tooth fairies!"

Roes felt her heart drop. Oh no.

She felt her anger rise, causing her body to steam and flame. Bunny and Sandy edged away from her, fearful of her wrath. Good. They should be.

A little cry caught her attention. She reacted, flying out of her seat to blast the shadow away while Jack caught the fairy. Rose sat back down, still flaming.

"Is she alright?"

The winter sprite opened his fist to reveal a shaking Tooth. Rose gasped.

"Tooth!"

She immediately took her from a concerned Jack, holding her close to emit a warm, reassuring heat.

"Are you okay?"

Tooth nodded with a smile, replying she was okay in her strange language.

"You're not hurt anywhere?"

She shook her head. Rose sighed in relief. She sent Jack a grateful look.

"Thank you, Jack. You saved her."

He scratched the back of his head. "Nah, I didn't do much. You're the one that got the shadow thing."

"Still. Thank you. She's one of the few friends I have..."

The silver-haired spirit regarded her with a combination of shock and pity. He knew what that was like. She knew he knew.

North expertly steered them through the madness and into the palace itself. Hopefully, they weren't too late.

Rose's POV

"Here! Take over!"

When North shoved the reins into my hands, I accepted them on instinct. I was far too pi-er, vehement, to argue.

Thankfully, I'd been watching how North steered.

"Hyah!" I cried, snapping the reins and directing the reindeer while the normally jolly man readied his swords, slicing one of the shadow creatures in half.

My whole body was glowing. I already knew my hair was flaming, flickering in my face from time to time. If Jack had just been closer to North, he might have received the reins instead. But, it made sense he would hand them to me.

After all, we had a bit of history together. Jack was new and unpredictable. In situations like this, we could afford no errors. Not that I thought he couldn't manage to drive the sleigh. I had full confidence in his abilities. But... I wanted to. It was pretty fun, despite the situation.

Baby Tooth was safely tucked away in the front pocket of my new Russian-style jacket. She was recovering nicely, especially after I used my magic to comfort her.

Once North defeated the shadow, it disintegrated into black sand. I barely noticed several golden boxes falling into the sleigh, spilling out of the defeated monster.

"They're stealing the teeth!" I heard Bunny exclaim.

I smoothly veered around a nearby pillar and parked the sleigh on a nearby platform. I was ready to fight. I needed to fight. This was atrocious and outright disgusting to see. Toothiana and her fairies didn't deserve this. They worked so hard every day and were so dedicated to their jobs.

The Guardians spotted the spirit flitting around, distressed.

"Tooth! Are you alright?" North called.

"They, they took my fairies! And the teeth! All of them! Everything is gone! Everything..."

I watched the realization hit the poor fairy. She slowly dropped to a raised part of the structure, with the other Guardians rushing to her side. Her wings drooped in defeat. She looked utterly lost.

I felt my flames die down, my fury replaced with sadness and pity. Something cold brushed my hand. I jumped, feeling that spark again.

Jack silently offered his hand. I took it without hesitation.

"... thank you," I said under my breath.

He nodded, squeezing my hand.

Baby Tooth flew out of my pocket and rushed over to Toothiana. She was more than elated to see her, cradling her lovingly in her hands.

"Oh thank goodness! One of you is alright!"

"I have to say, this is very, very exciting," a deep voice purred, causing all of us to glance around in alarm. "The Big Four, all in one place. I'm a little star-struck."

My eyes landed on a tall, dark-clothed man standing atop the structure the Guardians were gathered on. His ghastly-grey complexion and the amused glint in his eyes made me bristle.

"Did you like my show on the globe, North? Got you all together, didn't I?"

I grit my teeth, gripping Jack's hand tighter while I began to simmer. He returned the strength, his own powers activating to counter mine. The chill was soothing, serving to cap my temper.

As he started sauntering away, I watched Toothiana speak up, full of fury.

"Pitch! You have thirty seconds to return my fairies!"

Despite her amazing speeds, it was like Pitch could just disappear and reappear at will.

"Or what? You'll stick a quarter under my pillow?"

"Why are you doing this?" North questioned angrily, his dual swords ready to tear into the master of shadows.

Honestly, I could care less about why he was doing it. He did it and felt no remorse. That was enough for me to despise him. And to target someone so hard-working like Toothiana... I couldn't forgive it.

The taller man glared at them while Jack and I stood frozen in place. "Maybe I want what you have. To be believed in."

Another jolt went through me, Jack's fingers twitching as he continued to grip my hand. I glanced over to the white-haired boy beside me, whose eyes were wide in surprise. So was I.

That was what all this was about? Being believed in?

I stared, feeling my simmering disperse. If hurting good people like Toothiana was what it took to be believed in, would I still want it? Would I throw morals to the wind and become like Pitch?

The nightmare king continued his disappearance and reappearance act, giving none of us any time to track him in preparation for an attack.

"Maybe I'm tired of hiding under beds."

"Maybe that's where you belong," Bunnymund shot back in his typical snarky fashion.

Pitch teased him by appearing underneath him to stare him in the face and leave just as quickly. "Ah, go suck an egg, rabbit!"

I released Jack's hand to wield my stave, flames flickering at the tip when I sensed the dark spirit watching us. He did the same, glancing around warily.

"Hang on... is that Jack Frost?" Pitch queried, chuckling to himself. "Since when are you all so chummy?"

"We're not," Jack answered.

"Oh good."

We whirled around to catch Pitch nonchalantly standing in the middle of a column. He eyed me with heightened interest, his pale yellow eyes roving over my form. I glared at him, feeling uncomfortable under his leering. For a few seconds, I decided to parse his appearance and mannerisms to compile my own judgments of the spirit.

His eyes unnerved me. Not just the extremely unnatural and eerie color, but the malice and contempt behind them made my skin crawl. No warmth came from him in any form, his smiles and amicable words empty; mere masks in an attempt to present himself as more ingenuous.

I was used to sensing the warmth from everything around me; a form of divining or sixth sense considering I was a spirit of not only flames but warmth as well. And not just the sort of temperature warm; I could feel, to some extent, the warmth individuals carried in their beings. Perhaps it was their souls. Regardless, I felt nothing but a malign sort of coldness from Pitch. Not even Jack possessed the icy chill the Nightmare King held.

"A neutral party. Then I'm going to ignore you. But, you must be used to that by now. And who is that lovely creature with you?"

"My name is Theros. And aside from my name, I don't have to tell you anything about me."

"Ahh, yes, I remember now. The bright Spirit of Summer who always lets little troublemaker Jack here have his fun. Be honest: it is tiring, isn't it? Acting as his babysitter?"

I felt Jack bristle at my side, but I put a hand on his arm despite my similar feelings of unease and repulsion. "I'm far from his babysitter, and rather offended you think I don't have better things to do. Jack brings joy to children, so who am I to interfere?"

"Hmm, I'm sensing a bit of... inferiority. Well, I take it you aren't very close with the Guardians either?"

"I care about North. And Toothiana deserves better."

"Hmph. A shame; I thought you were smarter than that. You'd do far better siding with me than with those tender-hearted fools."

"Pitch! You shadow sneaking rat-bag! Come here!" Bunnymund called, charging forward.

Toothiana also sped into action, letting out a battle cry while she raced towards Pitch, who smugly stood perfectly still as the dark sand-like things from before lurched at her.

She gasped, horrified at the literal dark horse that emerged. Tooth screeched in fear, darting into my jacket pocket for safety.

I ignored Pitch's soothing words to his creation of darkness in favor of studying it. That texture, the shimmer, the way it moved... was it...?

Pitch spared me from wondering, twirling a bit of the opaque sand in his hand and turning toward Sandman.

"Look familiar, Sandman? Took me a little while to perfect this little trick. Turning dreams into Nightmares."

I glanced at the Guardians. They were all reeling in shock. I bated my breath, waiting until he became too cocky and revealed his plans or some kind of flaw before I unleashed my flames.

"Don't be nervous, it only riles them up more. They smell fear, you know."

"What fear? Of you?! No one's been afraid of you since the Dark Ages!" Bunnymund spat.

Pale yellow eyes flashed with rage, only fading when he smiled in what appeared to be nostalgia. He spoke of the Dark Ages fondly, which was a bit of a history lesson for a relatively more recent spirit like myself.

Apparently, he'd relished in causing and spreading fear throughout the world until the Man in the Moon chose the Guardians to reassure them with wonder and light. As his tangent concluded, he leaned toward the Big Four with contempt, saying that people's lack of belief in him would change, and it was happening already.

"Happening already?" I mutter as I hear Jack inquire what exactly he meant.

Glancing around, I noticed the beautiful structures of the palace were beginning to... crumble?

"Oh..." Toothiana gasped, her gem-like eyes wide in heartbreak and sudden realization.

Pitch smirked triumphantly, happily commencing the exposition of his plan. "Children are waking up and realizing the Tooth Fairy never came. It's such a little thing, but to a child-"

I frowned, turning in the direction of Toothiana. Why did she look like she just lost everything that mattered to her? What was happening?

Seeing her distress, I hesitantly walked over to her. She jumped a bit at my proximity, probably recalling what I did to Bunnymund. Slowly, I slipped my hand through hers and emitted a comforting warmth.

I watched as her face crumpled slightly, desperately trying not to reveal any weaknesses in front of Pitch, but I could see the tears brimming her big eyes and the way she bit the corner of her lip in an attempt to keep it from trembling.

She returned the grip I had on her hand.

Feeling eyes on me, I tore my gaze away from the upset fairy to make eye contact with Jack.

"Rose, do you know what's happening?"

I shook my head. "No..."

"They... they don't believe in me anymore..." Toothiana explained, her voice filled with despair and shock.

My eyes widened, furtively glancing from her to Jack in surprise. What? This... this was what happened when children stopped believing? After two centuries of walking through life practically invisible, I was beginning to prefer it over becoming a Guardian.

"Didn't they tell you, Jack? Rose? It's great being a Guardian - but there's a catch. If enough kids stop believing, everything your friends protect - wonder, hopes, and dreams - it all goes away. And little by little, so do they," Pitch chuckled.

Toothiana's beautiful wings drooped in defeat. I tightened the grip on her hand, forcing her to look at me. I sent her a curt shake of my head, my hair beginning to morph into waves of flames and skin brightening. The gentle warmth I'd been sending her turned into a determined heat, but not one so hot it'd scald her or cause her alarm.

The Guardian stared at me in puzzlement and astonishment, then seemed to understand what I was attempting to silently convey to her. Her wings lifted back up, stance proud and ready to tear Pitch apart.

'We can fix this. There has to be a way.'

"No Christmas, or Easter, or little fairies that come in the night. There will be nothing but fear, and darkness, and me! It's your turn not to be believed in!"

Bunnymund let out a war cry and flung his boomerangs at the lord of darkness, tired of his tirade. However, the Nightmare King was fast and swiftly dodged the weapons, using his Nightmare sand horse to get out of range.

Toothiana wrenched her hand out of mine, joining the other Guardians in pursuing Pitch. I glanced at a tensed Jack, nodding before running and leaping off the edge to follow the Guardians.

When Bunnymund tossed out some eggs that turned out to be colorful bombs, I shot my staff, enveloped in flames, forward to emit fiery projectiles locked onto Pitch. We all landed, guards up and senses tingling.

I saw no sign of the Nightmare King, nor his black sand creatures.

"He's gone," North breathed, looking visibly frustrated.

This... was not good. But, as North himself said, "if there is will, there is way".

I still wasn't entirely certain how to feel regarding the complications revolving around becoming a Guardian and being believed in. My mind incessantly kept returning to Pitch Black. Whatever he was originally, that person - or being - was gone. He was twisted and lost in darkness. There was no warmth within him to save.

But everyone had their weaknesses. I was already beginning to glean some of his. It was only a matter of time before I could exploit them. However, time was not on our side.

I took some small comfort despite that, our failure to apprehend the dark spirit, no matter how desperate I became to be seen, I would never sink as low as the Nightmare King.

/N: Whooo! I know it's been a while. Sorry about that, but life happened and I couldn't get away. Anyway! Tried not to make it too long, but maybe I'll lengthen the next one.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanza, and Season's Tiding's to all of you!

I hope you all had a great day and please leave a review to tell me what you thought of the chapter! I appreciate feedback and strive to improve wherever possible. Until next time!