Chapter 5 - A Bitter Winter Night

'Thought'

"Speech"

(I do not own any right to the Rise of the Guardians Universe, everything written is a parody and should be treated as such. I think that works for what needed to be said. Its also cannon Tooth Fairy can understand what the little tooth fairies say telepathically.)

(Head cannon that Jack Frost and Tooth Fairy like each other I've always shipped it and its implied in the Film. Fight me.)

(Ivory's POV)

​I felt the pressure holding me in place release and fell as my legs began to collapse and without any support holding up my body, it started tilting towards the ground.

As the ground seemingly grew larger the feeling of the tear across my neck regenerating suddenly blossomed into awareness. Arms tried to reach up, but the only one responding still felt slightly alien as it reached up and covered wiggling skin.

Flexing her fingers, she felt the grain of the wood shift and creak like a living thing as both the flesh under her hand seemed to shift and change as it healed, the feeling transitioned from a slightly cold skin to a colder more metallic feel. As this happened the floor continued to grow larger, and suddenly puddles entered her view and reflected her appearance back at her.

The first thing I focused on was the two changes to my appearance that were unexpected. My left arm seemed to have changed to wood that would fit more on a dryad than any flesh.

As I looked over my new arm, I couldn't help but think 'That explains the pain I felt although it seemingly moves well enough like a normal arm, the seeds must have done this somehow- but what did that lady give me to cause this.'

I then shifted my vision to the more important blood-covered neck that showed back at me from the water.

'My neck seems to have healed at least but not the skin that thought crossed my mind as a pale black line of scales that ran horizontally across pale skin seemed to shift and move going up and down creating small gaps in between each other.

A soft whistling and clicking sound can be heard before the scales stop and seemingly press against each other mimicking and appearance of a small section of scale armor.

My focus then shifted to the new eyes that stared back at me from the water, but a voice sounded out and the reflection in the water disappeared and instead showed a small lake surrounded by sand that transformed into a lightly wooded forest as the distance increased from the lake.

"Soooo how was the experience, fun? It seemed fun. Any a who what you are now seeing is the personification of your subconscious. The lake there is yours I'm being serious. Protect it from any corruption you experience in your life if it's taken over completely you're dead no re-do. Also, you'll see a timer th-" As my nose touched the water Tony's voice disappeared and my vision went black. 

*In another universe*

(Tooth Fairy POV)

​The moon looked so beautiful as a curtain of light pierced through the clouds causing a snowstorm and shined down on Jack Frost as he kneeled on the sand a distance away from Pitch Black who was also looking at Jack. As I looked over his body a sob couldn't help but wrack my body as tears trailed down my face.

He leaned heavily on his staff crouching down in front of all of us and although I couldn't see the front of his body I knew of his condition as I sat here and watched over the days as the damage accumulated over the days and nights of fighting and protecting all of the baby tooth fairies, myself and Rabbit since he transformed, all of us weakened by the loss of belief.

*Drip* *Drip* Drip* *Drip*

I watched as blood slowly dripped down from his body and splattered onto the ground already dyed red from his standing there for minutes. Rapidly my wings began to flutter as I pulled myself up and started walking to him, burning into my memory the image of his blood-soaked jacket and pants ripped into tatters barely more than shreds, visible through the cloth was a back worn and beat down but somehow still standing, wounds of all shapes and sizes littered his body, small jagged cuts traced their way over back leading into deep crescent shaped mashed that marred their way over his shoulder continuing unseen. The edges of wounds were ragged as if torn and bit by sharp teeth and canines, the worst wound of all a gaping hole where flesh once was, revealing the bone beneath, the back of ribs shone beneath.

I felt myself trip as I hit an unseen rock and the pain from the backlash of another group of children stopped believing in me. I stared at the ground as slowly drops of water started to hit the sand and my vision blurred by water coming from somewhere, my voice cracked heard even my fist curled in the sand as unwillingness surged in me.

"JACK! JACK PLEASE! Leave us you've done more than enough. You've protected us for days; Sandman has fallen and so has Rabbit. I DON'T WANT TO LOSE YOU TOO!"

My arms stopped being able to hold me up as I felt another group of kids leave me, only less than a thousand kids remained believing. I fell more laying partially on the ground my arms horizontal keeping me up.

Crunching sand could be heard as I could hear him getting closer feet shuffling as he had to use his staff to keep himself up.

His feet appeared in my obscured vision tears still wracking my body as slowly his knees appeared and I felt a hand under my chin slowly forcing me to lift my face.

My vision cleared as he used his thumbs to clean my face and wipe away my tears.

I could see his beautiful smile, snow white teeth gleaming as if freshly fallen snow as fallen, framed by the face I fell in love with ages ago no matter how destroyed or scared it became. Bright Icey blue eyes stared at me with care, one eye partially closed by a wound that ran across his eye ending as it crossed his nose blood slowly dripping down.

I closed my eyes as I leaned into his palm as his voice sounded out somehow still containing mirth.

"Now what are you going on and talking about Tooth? I'm not going anywhere I told to you to hell and back and it seems like we aren't in hell yet. Besides you gave me back my memories, I finally remember everything, I know why I was chosen! I had a family a real family. And a sister, ohh I can't wait to show you what she looked like, she was so sweet and adorable, she had a smile that would have made you proud."

"she sounds beautiful Jack I can't wait to see her, promise me you'll come back and show them to me."

It was silent for a few moments before I heard him shift and the world seemed to stay still in my eyes.

I felt ice-cold lips press lightly against mine as my eyes opened in surprise and I could only focus on the blue eyes full of confidence, humor and a hint of fear staring back at me. My arms flung up and grabbed fist Fulls of what remained of his jacket and pulled myself as close as possible, pressing my lips against his full of longing, fear, and happiness all trying to convey the singular thought.

'Please don't die Jack I love you'

"Eeee! Chreeee!" (*translated* Eeeeeee finally!) A loud pitch sounded out from thousands of throats before energetic trills and squeaks sounded out.

"Trrk-chree-trrk" ( we are happy for you Mom!) The high pitch trills continued as buzzing wings sounded out in increasing pitch. From the corner of my eyes, I could see thousands of my little fairies fly towards us before diverting and forming a doom over us. As they did this, they seemed to create a circuit so no gaps showed, fluttered against Jack one at a time and seemingly tried to flirt with him dramatically a few fake fainting on his shoulders.

A giggle escaped my lips as I leaned back and blushed as I stared at Jack, feeling the crest of feathers on the top of my head start to puff out.

I tap on Jack's arm gently as a sign to let go as I start to stand up taking a few steps away from him, meanwhile using my other hand to flatten down the feathers on the side of my head shyly.

I waggle a finger at the fairies " Hehe keep it together girls, if he's going to fight for us we have to make sure he looks his best. Little tooth try and get him excited for the fight"

They all nod rapidly before beginning to circle Jack rapidly while another one seems to hover right in front of his eyes and starts to trill rapidly to him mimicking air fighting someone and moving in and out of range along with other moves. As this happened his clothes slowly began to weave back together and appeared brand new as if nothing happened to them. He raised an eyebrow and ran over his clothes.

"Impressive work I didn't know you had these types of skills in you."

My wings fluttered slightly as I stepped closer and dusted some debris off his shoulders before kissing his cheek. "I have a lot of skills you do not know about that I've picked up over the years promise me you'll come back, and I'll show them to you."

"I will try my best to come back to all of you. But now it's time to finish this, it's been long enough.

The cold night air bit my skin as I watched as he walked off the Faries parting around him little hands reaching out trying to hold him back. My heart pounded in my chest, and though my wings were still, I felt like they might shatter from tension alone. Jack was already hurt. I could see the dark stain of blood spreading across his hoodie from the wound on his side already staining the newly stitched material. He shouldn't have been fighting.

"Is this bravery, Frost?" Pitch Black's voice carried through the stillness, his form emerging from the shadows. He strode forward, a looming figure of malice, flanked by his writhing Nightmares "You can still join me, and if not, I'll let you leave along with the Tooth fairy and the little ones, just stay out of my way."

Jack straightened, gripping his staff with both hands. He forced a smirk, though I could see the strain in his icy blue eyes. "It's called being stubborn, Pitch. You should try it sometime it might make you less boring."

Pitch smiled, "Stupidity then, you can barely stand."

Pitch's smile twisted into a sneer, and with a flick of his hand, a Nightmare charged forward. Jack reacted instantly, sending a blast of frost that shattered the creature into shards of black ice. But another Nightmare appeared from the forest on his left surging forward from a tree shadow at the same time, its jagged horn catching Jack off guard.

"Jack!" I cried out instinctively as the Nightmare struck, its horn piercing his shoulder. He cried out in pain, staggering back but not falling. Gritting his teeth, he swung his staff in a wide arc, smashing the Nightmare in the face. The creature dissolved into mist, but the damage was done.

Blood trickled down Jack's arm, staining the pristine snow beneath him. He winced but refused to drop his staff. "You'll have to try harder than that, Pitch," he said, though his voice wavered.

Pitch chuckled darkly, his golden eyes glinting. "Oh, don't worry. I intend to."

Shadows coiled around him like living creatures, lashing out toward Jack. Jack countered with a wave of ice that froze the tendrils mid-air, but Pitch was relentless. He closed the distance between them, summoning a whip of darkness that cracked against Jack's staff.

Jack swung his staff upward, the frosty tip catching Pitch across the face. The Nightmare King recoiled, his snarl echoing across the clearing. "You insolent little-"

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard it all before!" Jack shouted, his voice filled with defiance. He launched himself forward, sending another burst of ice that forced Pitch back.

Pitch's golden eyes narrowed, and with a flick of his wrist, shadows surged toward Jack. Jack countered with a wall of frost, the ice spreading in jagged spikes across the ground. The shadows dissolved against it, but Pitch was relentless, his tendrils reforming and striking again.

Jack leaped to the side, spinning his staff and sending a burst of ice that caught Pitch in the chest. The Nightmare King staggered back, brushing frost off his cloak with an annoyed expression, the moment he brushed off the frost a snowball came flying in and impacted at the exact same spot.

"That was a mistake," Pitch growled.

Jack laughed, though it came out breathless. "What, ruining your outfit? You're welcome."

The snowstorm had already darkened the sky getting worse throughout the day ever since we've been here, its winds howling through the trees like a wild beast. But in a moment, it became something else entirely. The snow swirled with an almost sentient rage, flurries thickening into a blizzard as Jack spun his staff above his head. His icy power surged, feeding the storm, and for a moment, he seemed untouchable.

Pitch Black stood at the center of the chaos, his golden eyes gleaming with malice. Shadows twisted and writhed around him like serpents, cutting through the storm with deadly precision. "Do you think this storm will save you, Frost?" he called, his voice cutting through the roaring wind. "Or are you just trying to hide?"

Jack smirked, though I could see the strain behind it. Blood seeped through the tear in his hoodie where he'd been struck earlier, and every movement carried the weight of his injury. "Hide? Nah," he replied, his breath visible in the freezing air. "I just thought I'd make things interesting."

With a burst of frost, Jack leaped into the storm, his feet skating effortlessly over the icy ground. He moved like a streak of silver, his staff glowing as he fired blasts of ice toward Pitch. Each strike exploded in sharp bursts of frost, forcing Pitch to retreat or block with his shadows.

"Is that all you've got?" Pitch sneered, his shadows darting toward Jack like vipers.

Jack dodged, spinning in a wide arc and sending another icy blast that caught Pitch in the shoulder. The Nightmare King stumbled but recovered quickly, his anger palpable. "You're just delaying the inevitable," he growled.

"Maybe," Jack shot back, his voice steady despite the storm raging around him. "But at least I'm giving you a run for your money."

I couldn't take my eyes off him. He was brilliant, skating through the storm with a grace that made my heart ache. But I could see the toll it was taking. His movements were slowing, his blasts of frost growing weaker. The blood dripping onto the ice beneath him told the story his smirk tried to hide.

Pitch saw it too. "You're tiring, Frost," he said, summoning a wave of shadows that surged toward Jack like a tidal wave.

Jack swung his staff, freezing the wave in mid-air before shattering it with a sharp kick. But the effort cost him, he stumbled as he landed, clutching his side.

"Jack!" I screamed, my voice lost in the wind.

Pitch didn't give him a chance to recover. Another Nightmare charged through the storm, its jagged horn aiming straight for Jack. He twisted to avoid it, skating backward and firing a blast of ice that shattered the creature, but the effort left him wide open.

Pitch appeared behind him in a swirl of shadows, striking with a whip of darkness that wrapped around Jack's leg and yanked him off his feet. Jack hit the ground hard, his staff slipping from his grasp and skittering across the ice.

"Still so defiant," Pitch said, standing over him as Jack struggled to rise. "But this is where it ends, Frost. You were never going to win."

Jack glared up at him, his chest heaving. Even now, he refuses to give up. "You talk too much," he muttered, his hand darting out to grab his staff. With a desperate surge of power, he unleashed a blast of frost that struck Pitch square in the chest, sending him stumbling back.

For a moment, I thought he might turn the tide. But Jack's strength was fading, his movements sluggish as he tried to get back to his feet. Pitch recovered quickly, his shadows closing in.

"You've fought well," Pitch said "But in the end, fear always wins."

Before Jack could react, Pitch's shadows surged forward, pinning him in place. A spear of darkness formed in his hand, its tip aimed at Jack's heart.

"No!" I cried, my wings carrying me forward, but I was too far.

Jack looked up at Pitch, his eyes filled with a quiet sorrow. "In another lifetime and a few more years, we truly could have been allies" he whispered, his voice barely audible over the storm. And then Pitch struck.

The spear pierced Jack's chest, and the storm fell silent. His staff slipped from his hand, the light fading from its icy surface. Jack's body went limp, his brilliant blue eyes staring into the sky as the snowflakes settled around him. Before his body hit the ground Pitch stepped forward and held Jack's body before softly lowering him to the ground and closing Jack's eyes for the last time before shifting into shadows.

I reached him moments later, cradling him in my arms as tears blurred my vision. "Jack, no," I whispered, brushing the frost from his pale face. "Please, don't leave me."

Pitch watched from the edge of the clearing, a sad smile on his lips that didn't seem to reach his eyes. "I know you won't believe me, but I truly didn't want it to come to this, if anyone would have understood it was him, he suffered almost as much as I did. He made me make a promise to him when I first offered him to join all that time ago before this all ended, I won't hurt you, all of you will be sent back to the cages, they will be expanded and connected I'm sorry Toothfairy..."

Venom laced my words as I spat them at him as we both stared at the body laying on the ground "Go FUCK yourself Pitch I'll never forgive you for this I hope you rot."

The snow was still. The storm that had raged just moments before had died, leaving an eerie stillness that hung in the air like a heavy cloak. his body lay motionless in my arms, his body pale and cold against the biting wind. His once bright, lively form had turned into a lifeless shell. His eyes, those bright blue eyes, had lost their spark. I could barely breathe, my heart caught in my throat, as tears blurred my vision.

I couldn't tear my gaze away from him. He was gone, and with him, a piece of the world's joy, a piece of my heart. The weight of that loss crushed me.

But as I sat there, cradling Jack in my arms, something in the sky began to shift. It wasn't the blackness of Pitch's shadows or the storm's angry clouds, but something deeper, something ancient and serene. The moon began to rise, its soft light spilling through the trees. It cast a cool, silvery glow that seemed to calm the world around us, gently sweeping the lingering shadows away.

Then, from that moonlit glow, he descended.

Brother Moon, the eternal guardian of the night, appeared before us. His form was as vast and graceful as the night sky itself, his silvery light glowing brighter than any star. He was not of our world, not truly, but his presence was as calming as the dawn. His eyes, glowing pools of deep wisdom and compassion, settled on Jack's still form, and there was no mistaking the sorrow that flickered in them.

I had heard of Brother Moon, of course, But to see him here, at this moment, was something else entirely. He moved with grace, his presence soothing the ache in the air.

Pitch Black, too, stood quietly a few paces away, his usual sneer absent. Even he seemed to respect this moment, For all his darkness, even Pitch understood what was happening.

Brother Moon bent down, his ethereal hands glowing brighter as they reached for Jack's soul. I watched, mesmerized, as Brother Moon lifted his hand, and the light around Jack's body seemed to intensify.

Jack's soul, like a soft, shimmering mist, began to rise from his lifeless form. It was the purest light soft, cool, and glowing with the essence of winter itself. The soul floated upward, wrapping around Brother Moon's outstretched hands, like a child finding its way home.

I closed my eyes for a moment, my heart breaking as I realized what was happening. His spirit was being carried back to the moon, back to the realm of forgotten dreams and the starry skies.

As the light enveloped Jack's soul, I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me a residual influence from Brother Moon. It didn't take away the pain, The Guardians had always known that the end of one journey was the beginning of another, but it still hurt, it always did.

Pitch, too, watched quietly. I could feel his presence—he was there, but not interfering. Even he understood the gravity of this moment. He had taken Jack's life, but now there was a respect for the spirit that remained, for what Jack had been.

Brother Moon nodded to both of us -Pitch and me- and with a graceful motion, he turned toward the sky, Jack's soul still glowing in his hands. Slowly, he began to ascend, carrying Jack's light toward the heavens, toward a place where winter's chill could finally rest, and where the spirit of hope could finally rest.

The wind had quieted, the storm now a faint memory, leaving behind an unnatural stillness. The night had swallowed the last traces of Jack's light, the moon's pale glow still lingering in the sky like a soft promise. I felt his presence all around me, a presence I hoped would never fully fade. I stayed there, my wings folded tightly against my body, trying to hold onto that feeling for as long as I could.

My little Tooth Fairies fluttered around me, their wings beat softly as if they were trying to comfort me but didn't quite know how. They, too, had seen Jack's light dimmed, and the sight of their tiny faces wide-eyed and uncertain only deepened the ache in my heart.

But the silence was heavy. The weight of Jack's absence pressed down on my chest, and even though the wind no longer howled, it still carried a deep emptiness that echoed in my soul.

I didn't look at Pitch right away. I didn't need to. I could feel his presence standing a few paces as he shifted behind me, just as still, just as cold. His shadow loomed, but there was no mocking, no bitterness in the air. It was... quieter now as if even he felt the weight of what had happened.

Time passed. Minutes? Hours? I couldn't tell. Every second felt suspended like the world was holding its breath in the aftermath. And then, finally, Pitch sighed. It wasn't a dramatic, triumphant sigh. It was... tired. There was a weariness in it that I hadn't expected, a resignation that made the night seem even more desolate.

His voice broke the silence, low and strained, but still cutting through the quiet like a blade.

"I'm... tired," Pitch said. His tone was far softer than I was used to hearing, lacking its usual venom. "This wasn't what it was meant to be today." He paused, his shadow flickering in the moonlight. "You... have your time for grief, Tooth. I'll be back tomorrow."

I remained still, not looking at him, not wanting to acknowledge him, but his words kept lingering in the air. They weren't an apology no, that would never come from Pitch but there was a rawness in his voice I had never heard before. His usual power and menace were absent, leaving something darker behind: exhaustion.

"You won," I said quietly, the words barely escaping my lips. "You got what you wanted."

A long, almost sorrowful pause followed. Then, Pitch's form shifted, and I heard the familiar sound of his footsteps the soft scrape of shadow against the snow.

"I didn't want this," he muttered, more to himself than to me. "I didn't want him dead. I wanted to win. To show them, to make them see..." He trailed off. A bitter laugh followed, but it was devoid of humor. "But this? This wasn't part of the plan."

I couldn't bring myself to respond. The coldness of his words still clung to the air, even though they didn't seem as sharp now.

"Tomorrow, Tooth," he repeated, his voice tinged with finality. "Tomorrow, I'll come back. And we'll finish this."

The shadows around him began to shift, and before I could say anything more, Pitch had melted into them, disappearing into the night with a swirl of darkness, leaving only the faint echo of his presence.

I remained in the stillness, my wings limp at my sides, staring at the spot where Jack had fallen, the icy ground now untouched. The coldness that remained wasn't the chill of winter or the touch of fear. It was something far deeper, an ache that wouldn't fade, not tonight.

I didn't know what would come next. I didn't know how I would move forward from this. But for now, all I could do was sit in the quiet, letting the weight of Jack's absence settle into my bones, holding onto the memory of him as tightly as I could.

Tomorrow, the world would move on. But tonight, I grieved. And maybe, just maybe, Pitch did too.