A sly grin slid across Pitch's face as his golden eyes bore into the soul of the terrified boy in front of him. The fear in those blue eyes surged through his body, making his power grow as he simply waited for a verbal response.

"Who… who are you?" the boy stammered with a shaky voice, desperately trying to sound strong.

"Why, I'm a spirit, like you," Pitch replied.

The boy raised a frightened brow.

"My name is Pitch Black," He reached out a bony hand to the white-haired boy. "What is yours?"

The blue eyes went from his gray hand to his golden eyes, fright still shining through the blue.

"I'm… Jack Frost," he murmured before taking Pitch's hand.

"Nice to meet you, Jack. I'm sorry I scared you." The dark man slightly emphasized the name as he helped Jack up.

'It, it's fine," the boy responded, now averting his eyes from Pitch.

Pitch frowned for a moment, then turned towards the pond Jack had nervously been standing beside. The ice, which had once covered the body of water, was now breaking. The sunlight made the cold water sparkle and shimmer like the way a pile of silver glints under moonlight. He'd just given Jack a nightmare about drowning in said pond, which actually wasn't far from the truth. The boy had drowned in this very pond in his past life; if he knew he never told anyone about it.

"Beautiful day, isn't it?" Pitch continued, folding his hands behind his back. He noted Jack's nervous movements beside him.

"Yeah, I guess," Jack quietly replied.

Silence came, ringing in both their ears for a long moment. Pitch noticed Jack was still shuffling nervously to his right. The boy was probably trying to figure out what to say next, or maybe how to get away. Pitch knew what he would do, and wasn't surprised when Jack finally spoke.

"So… Pitch," Jack glanced up at him, looking like he was about to ask a question.

Pitch stayed still and paused before answering. "Yes?"

Jack paused and then sighed, staring out at the water. He lightly hit the bottom of his staff on the ground, making a tiny circle of frost on the cold grass, no more than 3 inches in diameter. Pitch smirked lightly, now knowing his plan would fit perfectly into place. Jack didn't notice and finally asked him a question he'd been expecting to hear.

"You're the Boogeyman, right?" Jack cocked his head in Pitch's direction as he asked the question.

"Why, yes I am," Pitch replied. He smiled lightly and quietly huffed. "How did you know?"

"I… just… have heard about you," Jack said, once again averting his eyes.

"Hm," Pitch looked back out on the pond. "A lot of spirits have."

He smoothly stepped away from Jack, who, now full of questions, scrambled after him.

"So wait, you're the guy who gives everyone nightmares?" Jack asked, stopping his feet.

Pitch took a few more steps and stopped. With his back to the boy, he let a grin crawl across his face that Jack couldn't see.

"Well, yes I do," he said, making his face serious as he turned back to his fellow spirit. "That's my job, my purpose," he paused for effect, pretending to think. He raised an invisible brow as he turned back to Jack. "What is yours?"

The world seemed to stop for a long moment as Jack suddenly realized what Pitch had asked. Something like reality seemed to hit him like a blow to the gut, forcing him to take a deep breath. His face painfully revealed his feelings.

"I… I don't know…" he finally said. He slung his staff over his shoulder, his head lowered. "It seems like I'll never know."

Pitch stepped back to Jack, putting a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Don't worry, Jack," he said reassuringly. "I know you will find out what your purpose is."

"You think so?" Jack asked, giving him a half-hopeful glance.

"Of course!" Pitch said, his voice filling with (faked) hope. "I know you can," he paused, a smile on his face. It dropped as he continued. "But you have to find it for yourself, Jack. I can't help you."

Jack's face fell as Pitch straightened himself. The Boogeyman smiled at Jack's lowered head, his plan falling into place.

"You can't help me?" Jack stated more than asked as he looked at Pitch once more.

"No, I cannot," he replied, slightly shaking his head. "If the Man in the Moon would let me, I would."

Jack blinked and then narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Wait, he talks to you?"

"Why yes, of course," Pitch said. "He talks to everyone."

Jack stared at him stupidly. Now Pitch was slightly confused. Didn't Jack know this?

"So he talks to you, but not to me?" Jack asked, a twinge of anger in his voice. "He hasn't said anything to me in 150 years and he still talks to you?"

"Now, now, Jack," Pitch said in an attempt to calm him down. He raised his arms in a 'calm down' manner. "There is no need to get angry."

"Oh really? Why? Why shouldn't I?" Jack asked, now shouting. His face was now twisted with anger.

"Because," Pitch said calmly, dropping his arms, "it could be your downfall,"

With that, his figure melted into Jack's shadow, disappearing from sight.

Hiya guys!

Sorry I haven't posted anything in a while.

This'll probably be a 3-part or 4-part story, not quite sure yet.

I'll try to get back to "A New Guardian" soon.

Please read, rate, and enjoy!