Obviously, this is my first story. So I apologize if anything is confusing or... just poorly written in general. This is kind of an experiment for me. I have a general idea where this story is going, but be patient with me! I'm still trying to figure out ways of trying to get the story where I want it to go. Basically, I'm just winging it. Also, there is a possible Jack/Pitch ship in here (because they're my OTP and I will ship them to hell), but that's in later chapters. Maybe. I don't know yet.

(Small update: I fixed a lot of errors I found, and sentences that sounded down right awkward. Sorry for the crappy chapter. Here's, hopefully, a better written one.)

Enjoy!

"Jack, hurry!" North yelled.

Jack called to the wind. He called for it to push him faster, to reach Sandy. He needed to reach Sandy. He had to. He summoned all his effort and strength into the wind. He flew like a bullet through the sky, no longer hearing the other Guardian's calls behind him. He had to get to Sandy.

Jack watched in horror has he spotted Pitch on his nightmare cloud, an arrow formed in his hands and Jack panicked. He's going to be too late. He won't be able to save Sandy.

Pitch raised his hands, arrow in place, and pulled the bow's string back. Jack screamed. A sudden burst of cold air pushed him faster. Then…

Darkness.

Everything seemed frozen in time. Jack couldn't move, he couldn't even utter a sound. He embraced the darkness for only a moment before pushing it away. Sandy's face appeared in Jack's mind, and he knew he had to crawl of the darkness to save him. With his determination, the darkness uncovered his vision, and to reveal Sandy's face. His expression was filled with terror. Jack was confused. Did he save Sandy? Where was Pitch?

Then Jack felt it. A pain, a small pinch was present on his back. Sandy reached for Jack's face. His eyes glittering with fear and…. sadness?

Noise returned to Jack's ears. Tooth's yelling, the reindeer coming closer, and Pitch's laugher. Jack let go of Sandy and slowly stood. He felt warmth covering his back, seeping into his skin and spreading into his body.

"Well, this has taken a perfect turn of events."

Jack turned his head towards Pitch, seeing the bow in his hands, empty of the arrow. Realization struck in.

"Jack! No!"

"Jack!"

The voices became muffled as they got closer. Jack stretched his hand behind his back, and felt an object. The object had an odd feeling to the touch. Jack gripped it, and pulled. The pain hadn't decreased, nor did the warmth that seemed to be completely covering his body.

He brought his hand with the object close to his heart, afraid of what he was going to see if he looked down. He moved his thumb across the object. The sandy feeling was very distinguished and had the same odd feeling that he felt in his skin.

Jack looked over Sandy again, seeing his eyes move over the object in his hand. Jack dared not to look at it, but he knew what it was. His hands tightened on the arrow and he shut his eyes closed.

The warmth was now completely covering his body. He felt it in every area. However, this time, it wasn't just the warmth. A sharp pain flooded his body, along with another sensation.

Fear.

The arrow dropped from Jack's hands and he collapsed on his knees. Voices screamed at him, but they weren't clear anymore. Jack felt like he was under water, drowning in it. Fear crept into his mind – he saw visions of horror and darkness.

He felt Sandy's hand on his face, but he did not open his eyes. The warmth was replaced with cold and the pain intensified.

Jack brought is hands to his face, trying to cover the pained expression he held. Sandy's hand pulled back when he did. Jack panted roughly, trying to contain the pain that had suddenly erupted. He fell to his back and writhed on the cloud, whimpering under his breath and tried to remain quiet. When majority of the pain had ceased, he released his head. He opened his eyes and looked up at the sky. It was beautiful, but dark. The moon shone on him, the light though, wasn't as bright.

A minor pain continued on and Jack's breath shuddered. Sandy's face covered Jack's view of the sky, and he felt familiar small hands throughout his body.

"Jack!" a muffled voice cried.

Tooth?

"Fight it, Jack! Fight it!"

"Don't fight the fear, Frost. Let it consume you."

Pitch. This was Pitch's fault. Jack wanted to jump up and freeze Pitch. He wanted to throw a snowball at him, anything. He couldn't move though. His fingers were tingling, along with his toes. The tingling sensation spread across his body, as did a cold feeling.

"Jack, look at me. You're going to be okay."

A blue blur joined the gold blur in his vision. Jack only wished to see the sky now. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't move, he couldn't even acknowledge the small touches he was receiving from Tooth and Sandy. He didn't even feel alive anymore.

What seemed like an eternity lying there was only a measly minute. And just as sudden as the sensations had come, they were gone. No more pain, no more warmth. He only felt cold. He felt cold and dark.

Jack opened his eyes. When did he close them? Everything was clear, if not clearer. Tooth's eyes were the first things he saw. Her eyes were worried and filled with complete fear. Jack knew she feared his death, or any injury that was inflicted upon him. And Jack loved it. He loved looking into her eyes and seeing her fear. Dread soon joined fear when she continued to stare at Jack.

"Jack…" she breathed.

What?

He darted his eyes over to the Sandman. Sandy looked lost, and confused. Ah, and there was that delicious fear-

Delicious? No. Jack frowned. They shouldn't be afraid, they can't be. Jack wanted to reach up and hug both of them, whisper to them that everything was going to be alright.

Jack slowly sat up. Tooth and Sandy immediately backed away from his motion. Jack stared at his bare feet.

What happened? He thought. He felt calm, and relaxed, like an arrow had never pierced his back. However, Jack felt weak. He adjusted his arms, and pushed himself off the ground. His legs shook underneath his weight and he had to steady himself before lifting his head. When he did, Pitch was directly in front of him.

Jack recalled slightly, his mind screaming danger. Pitch's eyes moved over Jack's face, taking in every detail. Slowly, Pitch raised his hand, and placed it on Jack's cheek. Jack shuddered at the touch, but couldn't find himself to pull away. Pitch's hand felt…welcoming. He loved the touch from the Nightmare King. He enjoyed the feeling of a touch of fear.

"What a beautiful turn of events," he murmured. "Look at your darkness, the fear you can inject."

Jack couldn't decide if he was confused, or flattered. Jack continued to melt at Pitch's touch, never wanting the warmth the hand brought to leave.

Pitch's eyes moved up behind him, and he grinned. "Oops," he cackled.

Jack gripped the hand on his face, and turned his head, making sure the hand won't leave. He first made eye contract with Tooth, who looked like she was on the verge of tears. Next, the Sandman, he was frozen in place. North and Bunny were in the distance. Bunny was raging, and North looked defeated. And Jack…enjoyed it - the look of defeat, rage, sadness, fear.

Yes. He loved it.

"Jack?" Tooth called.

Jack moved his eyes over to Tooth.

"What's up?" Jack replied. His voice was smooth, laced with an eerie touch of darkness. Jack was surprised, but also, even more confused. Why were they all looking at him like that? Why was Pitch still touching him? Jack dropped his hand, and Pitch's slowly slid off his face. Jack couldn't comprehend what was happening. He tried to match the pieces up, but nothing added.

Tooth couldn't seem to find his words. "Are…. How do you feel?"

Jack titled his head in confustion and scrunched his face. "I feel fine."

Tooth's mouth opened and closed repeatedly.

"Pitch!"

Jack's eyes moved back the sleigh, where Bunny was standing on the front reindeer, his boomerang in hand. What was he doing? The sleigh came closer.

"You're going to pay for this!" Bunny roared.

He jumped off the reindeer, and hurled right towards Jack and Pitch. Jack was too shocked to move. Couldn't Bunny see Jack was in front of Pitch? Bunny was going to hit Jack, yet Jack couldn't find his feet to move.

Jack felt Pitch's arms wrap around him, and Jack immediately leaned into the touch, bracing for impact, but it never came.

Jack felt like he was flying. There was a breeze surrounding him, along with a cloud of black.

"Jack! Come back!" North wailed.

Jack's eyes wondered through the darkness until they found a shed of light below him. Pitch's hands gripped tighter onto Jack's shoulders as Jack peered around the black, sand cloud below him. All Guardians were looking up at him, screaming, crying and –

Oh. They're afraid.

"Can you sense it, Jack?" Pitch whispered in his ear. "Their fear?"

Jack could only stare down at the four, letting Pitch whisper his words. His hands moved down to his forearms.

"I have such great plans for us, even though this was…. unexpected."

Jack wasn't sure what he mean but – wait, plans? Pitch must have felt Jack's confusion.

"You're now one of us."

…. What? Jack spread out his fingers in front of him, observing every knuckle and every nail. Everything seemed normal. Although, Jack seemed to appear more pale than usual - almost a deathly ill color.

Jack then, began to panic. You are now one of us. No. No, no, no, no! Jack clutched his hands into his hair, feeling around. He noticed a single black strand in the corner of his eye. No! This can't be happening!

"Yes," Pitch hissed, dragging on the word. "Embrace your darkness."

A sudden golden whip slashed the air next to Jack and Pitch. Jack looked down at the Guardians again, moving away from Pitch. Pitch let him go. Sandy stood by them, his golden, sand whips ready at hands, his expression pained.

"Don't worry, Jack!" North yelled. "We will save you!"

A laugh sputtered from Jack's lips. Sandy cracked his whip again, directly towards a smirking Pitch. Jack's hand struck out, and caught the whip. Under his touch, the golden sand slowly darkened, turning black. Jack stared in wonder at it, but also in horror. He… he saved Pitch? He protected him? It was just a reaction, an instinct calling from his mind. And the sand, it was black now, only because he touched it.

The whip was jerked from his hand. Jack's eyes followed the whip. North realized the situation, and pulled out his double swords. Bunny, doing the same with his boomerangs. Tooth hovered near them, her hands shaking, clearly unsure what to do.

They were going to attack, Jack assumed. He then realized his staff was missing. His hands felt empty and he suddenly felt useless and vulnerable. Pitch guided Jack's head with his hands so Jack was looking behind the Guardians. His staff was lying on the golden sand cloud.

Pitch chuckled softly. "What are you waiting for?"

The voice returned into his head, clouding his better judgment. Jack walked to the edge of Pitch's cloud, and jumped.

The Guardians were shocked, still ready for attack, but they hesitated. They could only watch as Jack gracefully landed behind them, the golden sand beneath his feet turning black, but returning gold as his foot was lifted.

Jack walked slowly over to his staff, wobbling on his legs. When hr reached it, he squatted down, and grasped the staff firmly in his hand.

Ice laced at his hand, and staff came alive underneath his touch. Jack stood with his staff, observing the newly dark carvings that appeared on the wood.

"Jack," a quiet voice said behind him.

Jack turned to face Tooth. "Have something to say this time?" he answered bitterly.

Tooth was taken back. "You need to come with us, Jack."

"Why?" he asked curiously.

She hesitated. "You're not yourself."

"On the contrary," Pitch exclaimed from above. "He looks absolutely perfect."

"That's it!" Bunny swung his arm forward, the boomerang released him his hand. Jack was stunned at Bunny's attack. He brought his staff up and the boomerang recalled from the hit. At this distraction, Bunny charged towards Jack. Still uncoordinated, Jack went to dodge the charge, but instead tripped over his own feet, and fell to the ground.

Before Bunny could reach him, with the obvious impression that he was going to physically attack Jack, a wall of black sand materialized in front of him. Jack heard a low curse from Bunny from the sudden obstacle.

"Now let's not hurt my new little prince, shall we?"

Jack's had enough with this internal battle within him. He's tired of the confusion and his sudden appreciation and creation of darkness. Jack growled in frustration. He jumped up with renewed energy, and launched himself off the cloud.

"Now look what you did."

Pitch's words was the last thing Jack heard before he called the wind and soared at lightning speed away from the Guardians and the Nightmare King. Jack was lost. He was confused. What had he become?

He loved the look of terror in Tooth's eyes, the horror in Sandy's, the anger in Bunny's and the sorrow in North's. Golden sand turned black under his touch and Pitch's dark aura was simply intoxicating. Jack recalled the moment where the arrow had pierced his back. The moment where an odd feeing of warmth consumed him as well as the evil it possessed.

Jack flew through the sky, clutching his tainted staff. He soon spotted the lake, his home. Jack roughly landed into the snow. He tumbled through the bushes until finding his feet and clumsily walked over to the edge of the ice then collapsed.

Jack panted above the frozen lake. He felt weak and powerless. The quick flight had taken the majority of the energy he had left from Pitch's attack. His icy breath mixed with the cold air, and Jack welcomed the gusts of freezing air he breathed in.

Once Jack had caught his breath, he relaxed onto his heels, dropping his staff next to him. He peered down at the frozen lake, covered in snow. Jack reached his hand out and began brushing the snow off, letting the clear ice become a mirror.

Jack hesitated before looking down at his reflection. He feared the worse, but knew the outcome. He took a deep breath. I can do this. Jack braced his hands below him, and leaned over the opening.

It took all of Jack's strength to not cry out. It also took all his strength to not laugh in victory.

Jack's once snowy, white hair was now completely black. There was no hint that it once possessed its white. And his eyes. Jack wanted to gauge his eyes out. One looked like the moon – silver and golden, filled with life, but also full of darkness. The other was like the ocean. The color was the definition of blue - Jack's normal blue eye color.

Jack couldn't understand. He couldn't comprehend. He bowed onto the ice, clawing at his darkened hair and eyes. He snarled and grinded his teeth. How could he have let this happen?! He's just like Pitch now. Evil. Jack didn't want to be evil. He didn't want to be feared. He wanted to spread joy, to bring happiness. He just wanted to have fun and to be believed in.

Now he can't.

Unless. Jack seized his snarling, but still kept a tight hold on his hair. There are others way of bringing fun. Darker ways. A smile broke out on Jack's face.

No!

Yes!

Jack banged his head against the ice and collapsed on his bottom. He didn't know what he wanted, or what he was. Was Jack a fearling now? Or is he still…

What was I before? Jack Frost? Just another spirit that brings winter?

Jack curled his knees to his chest. I wasn't anyone. No one appreciated Jack, or even acknowledged him. The Guardians only took notice simply because the Moon told them so. They would have never thought to seek the help of Jack Frost.

Jack growled. He doesn't mean anything to them. He didn't want to be a Guardian. He just wanted his memories, then he was going to vanish and continue being who he was: the invisible boy.

"Jack."

Jack sat up, turning his head quickly. Pitch stood at the edge of the forest, his hands neatly folded behind his back. Jack could only stare.

"How did it feel, Jack," he began. "To be ignored for 300 years? You were invisible, never noticed."

Jack opened his mouth, but couldn't find his words. He turned his head back towards the lake and rested his chin on his knee in defeat.

"But look at you know," Pitch chuckled. "A beautiful creation. A perfect – "

"Fearling?" Jack interrupted. Just as he thought. Even in his new state, he was still only a puppet.

"Prince," Pitch finished, almost hesitantly. "You aren't anything close to a fearling. You're now the Prince of Nightmares, and I am the King. We are equal now, Jack. You don't have to alone anymore."

Pitch's footsteps were silent, but Jack knew he was walking closer.

"You are a nightmare come true." Jack frowned. Pitch was sweet talking him. "Imagine what we could do together. The world we could create. The nightmares that will be born! Cold and dark, Jack." Pitch leaned into Jack's ear. "Just you and I in our new world."

Jack turned his head away.

"Imagine a world where there is nothing but ice and darkness. Can you see that, Jack?" Jack stared at the frozen lake ahead of him, picturing the ocean, just as frozen. "We will rule this world, and no one can stop us. Not even the Guardians." Jack huffed at the mention of the Guardians, his puppet masters. Pitch grinned at Jack's reaction.

"Come with me, Jack. Join me and we'll create a new world. Our world. Filled with nothing but cold and dark."

Jack slowly turned his head back to Pitch. Pitch leaned over him, looking down on him with smug smile. Jack darted his eyes back to the lake. A world with only cold and dark? Jack loved the cold. He loved making it snow, he loved making it freeze, and he loved causing trouble with his frost. Now he can do it everyday, with no one to tell him, 'no, that's wrong'.

But the darkness part. Jack loved the light. He loved how it glistened off his snow, even though the sun does melt is eventually. Then hit Jack. With no sun, nothing can melt his frozen creations. There will always be snow. The lakes, rivers and oceans will always be frozen. It'll be Jack's world. And Pitch's.

Jack moved his eyes back to Pitch. Pitch must have seen Jack's new found determination, because Pitch began to grin.

"I'm in," Jack declared. Pitch's grin widened. "On one condition."

"Oh?" Pitch's grin never faltered.

"I don't want to hurt the kids," Jack said.

Pitch's grin turned into a smile. "But of course. You'll never have to lay a figure on the precious children."

Jack nodded, satisfied with Pitch's answer. "Alright then."

"Now." Pitch stood, his back straight and head high. "Are you ready to see your new home?"

Thoughts? Questions? Concerns?