Pitch called out in disgust as he brushes off the snow on his face, annoyance only stopped when his horse reels from a newly formed path of ice below him.

          Taking the lead Jack skated with his staff held out and the ice path continuing, you getting tossed around shamelessly in the piece of some random metal Jack had pushed you on. You honestly could've just made some driftwood style form of transport or something, but it was too late and your butt was now at a risk for hypothermia from the ice and annoyingly good conductor for the shitty cold.

          Everyone laughed around you, much less concerned with what you were complaining about and you just decided to join in. North's booming laughter was always contagious, you just hated that you weren't immune to it.

          Annoyingly, Jack made a loop of the ice, upside down for a whole two seconds before you were thumped back onto somewhat solid ground and definitely getting a bruise. You see North catch Bunny's ride, and you thought you were safe for a few moments before Jack flies off forming a ramp and you all get sent off it as well.

          With a cry of either complaint or surprise you jumped on top of the buildings, continuing onto the path as Jack separates from the group with Jamie held by the back of his shirt like a puppy.

          You didn't know how but you were quite sure North had placed presents in some random twins' room, a window opening and two kids peering out with a gasp. "Merry Christmas!!" North loudly bellows, sliding off at the front of your little group.

          "Happy Easter. . !"

          "Don't forget to floss!!!"

          "SAVE THE TREES!!" You just yelled the first thing that came in your head before you cackled loudly, only being topped by the faint laugh of the girl from behind you that had decided to join in. Turning back to the front you see Jack had returned Jamie back onto his makeshift sled, flying ahead as more laughter echoed throughout the crisp night air, no doubt disrupting everybody's peace.

          "The Easter Bunny's real!"

          "Tooth Fairy, Mother Nature!!"

          "And Santa!!! They're all real!!!" You cheered as the kids followed along, raising a fist and they followed suit, once again cackling loudly at how easily they were willing to follow you.

          But the laughter soon dies down and Jack skids to a stop, finding out a few moments later at the sight of an unnaturally large wave of Pitch's black dust, like a storm quickly approaching as the man of the hour chuckles. On top of a building in front of it was he himself, perched atop one of his proud little nightmares and looking down at your new makeshift group.

          A kid in a green coat cheers and runs upfront, but you stop him just in time and he yelps upon finally noticing the danger. Man, kids.

          "You think a few children can help you? Against this?" Pitch gestures to his newfound power, large waves circling onto the town square that you had all landed as your final resting sp— destination for a fight.

          North raises his sword in warning and a challenge, before his strength gives out, weapon once again a crutch as Fairy and Jack hold to help him balance himself. "They're just bad dreams, Jamie." Jack tries to reassure, followed by a nod from Bunny, "And we'll protect you, mate."

          "Aw, you'll protect them?" He once again calls out in patronization, and you, once again, call him out for it. "Last chance, ass—!" There were a few gasps from behind you, catching yourself in time as your brain rushed for a substitute, "SSSDDD-Dickhead! . .nope that is not better."

          There were some amused laughs from the kids, murmurs of 'Mother Nature can swear?' and some giggles as though it was the end of the world just because you did.

          Pitch laughs, head tilted back, "Oh please, dear, and what will you do? Make him believe that he can protect other people?!" He looks forward, a snarl and a scoffing laugh, "But who'd protect him?"

          A silence fell over the group, Guardians quietly lost and you bit your tongue. The answer was pretty much obvious, some pretty cheesy but true belief of all of you having each other's backs when you most need it. Jack sends a silent reassurance to North, stepping forward with a thing or two to say before Jamie beats him to it, a determined look on his young face. "I will."

          "I will." The most intimidating—but honestly adorable—girl of the group pushes past everyone else, walking forward in confidence as she stands beside Jamie in full support. "I will!—"

          "I will!" Now the twins followed suit, brows raising in amusement as you take a step to the side, letting them pass. "And me. . !" The other girl looked a little concerned but joined the others' side nonetheless, a dorky, "I'll try?" from the blond in glasses and the green coat from earlier instantly making him your favorite.

           So with a proud stance and some newly found form of confidence you drew your weapon, held towards Pitch in a challenge like back at the Tooth Palace. A small sense of déjà vu came over you, but it was cut short as Pitch's annoying voice spoke once again.

          "Still think there's no such thing as the Boogeyman?!" Without warning the large wave of black dust charged towards you, piling unnaturally and rushing in the streets as it left darkness in its wake. It shut out lamps and broke alarmed cars, windows crashing in protest and cable poles being pulled down by the weight it carried. You quieted a gasp, not expecting him to rise to this much power in a few short hours and managing to scare everyone.

          But you stood your ground, clutching onto your sickle like your life depended on it. And if you were being honest, you were quite sure that it was.

          "I do believe in you," Jamie proudly announces, shaking his head, "I'm just not afraid of you."

          It reaches a crescendo as a large point overhead, pausing a few fleeting moments before diving down and charging straight towards you all. You felt a hand on your arm and it didn't take much of a genius to figure out, the cold fingers grasped in worry—you weren't sure if it was for himself or everyone. . .or you?—and you tried your best to wordlessly reassure him with your gaze still locked onto the large wave.

          And then it finally struck, ready to close your eyes and accept it. . .before it explodes in golden light.

          Jamie's hand managed to stop the entirety of it as it turned to the much more comforting color of Sandy's yellow, the thought of your friend striking chords in your heart and relief washed over. Almost as quickly as it he had gotten it Pitch loses control, the bright color quickly spreading to the rest of the city as Jamie gasps in a quiet cheer. Soon, everyone was laughing once again, catching Jack's gaze and you smiled back, amused laughter of your own.

          . . .

          Just like that, that annoying feeling was in your stomach again.

          Even with the loud surroundings there was a moment of quiet, gaze locked onto his brightly colored blue eyes. His dark brows were raised upward in a bright smile, hints of his white hair growing on them. Unnaturally perfect white teeth stared back at you, and if you weren't in such a state of a totally unspecified feeling you could've laughed at it. Any other time you would've made fun, something about the only thing you liked about him being his perfectly cut teeth. Yet. . .right now they just added to this new form of light you were seeing Frost under.

          . . .

          Thankfully before you could embarrass yourself any further you heard a laugh from Tooth, turning to see her wings fluttering once again and her feet off the ground. You hadn't even realized how weird it looked to see Tooth walking, only noticing it now that she was flying again and noticing the weirdly empty space on your arm now that Jack's hand wasn't on it.

          . . .no stop that!!

          "Yeah, Tooth Fairy!" One kid cheered, followed by a loud guffaw from North and you see him back to his normal state as well. He was standing as proudly as he always did, double swords drawn and held like how they were supposed to.

          "No! Get them!!" Came Pitch's exasperated call to his horses, "Do your jobs!"

          You click your tongue and hold out your sickle, reacting weirdly as you see Bunny on the floor in pure anticipation. It was cute, especially with his form but you didn't want to get your ass kicked once he was back to the other one. "Aw crikey!" He runs past between your legs and out of sight, a quick swipe of your wrist and vines emerge from the ground. It cracked the road but it did its job, exploding the horses that it managed to wrap around.

          But some still managed to get through, striking as many as you could while the stampede continued on to behind you.

          There was a grunt from North, a shatter and some familiar grumbles—the two lines of yetis giving a sense of safety now that you had some backup. Behind them from the portals followed various of North's proud work, mechanical toy planes making many of the kids awe in wonder.

          "Your turn, Lorax," Bunny calls out, raising a brow and turning to see him back to his full height. Beside him was one of the large, egg statues, scoffing a smile as you swiped blindly—managing to hit another horse—and cocking a brow. "Oh? You're asking me to show-off?"

          "Don't pretend like you don't want to, mate."

          With a roll of your eyes and a 'touché' you head over to a tree, hitting as many of the nightmares as you could on the way there before knocking on the wood.

          A doorway formed and almost with no warning squirrels and rabbits charged out, little critters—some with worker hats and one still munching on a snack—small but deadly as they piled onto many of the horses and attacked mercilessly. You were glad to see a skunk somewhere in the group too.

          "By God I'm amazing." You mumbled to yourself before jumping right back into action, the kids alongside joining with no hesitation.

          "Y/N, there!!" North points to a rooftop and you nod, finding flashes of blue on top of it as Bunny forms a hole in the concrete, "All yours, mate!"

          With a cry, North jumps right in, rolling your eyes as you opted for your favorite form of transportation in a pile.

          Arriving at the top you jumped back into human form and blocked a spear-shaped formation of Pitch's dust that aimed for Jack, before immediately disappearing again into a pile as he calls out a thanks. It was followed by a nickname that honestly ruined it—shrub—but hey beggars can't be choosers.

          Bunny jumps out from a chimney—surprisingly enough—yelling a, "Ho Ho HO!" Before throwing out his boomerang. As Pitch looks at it in a mix of anger and worry Tooth flashed by with a cheer, flying through many of the horses like it was nothing before flying off again.

          Pitch charged for the edge of the roof, going after him with vines slowly running up your arms like veins. But you didn't get to be badass as North takes that opportunity instead, striking the horse he rode on with a proud battle cry and letting the annoying fuck land on the street below unceremoniously. Without pausing North charges after him as soon as he reached it as well, a large scythe swiping at him and dust flying off upon impact with his own swords. Another swipe as he loses his weapons, but Bunny covers him and kicks, an unnecessarily dramatic flip before he throws out his boomerang.

          Before he could react you sneaked a swipe from your sickle—his whole body was made from dust, you almost made the mistake of inhaling it when you grazed him—from behind him, a quick getaway as you turned into a pile and Tooth flies in. He manages to dodge the fairy, but Jack comes in and kicks him as well.

          Fully formed and alongside each other once again you all posed, a proud feeling in your chest as you held out your sickle. "It's over, Pitch," Jack threatens, taking charge as he stood upfront in confidence, "There's no place to hide."

          There was—ironically enough—a look of fear on Pitch's face, before he pauses and laughs, body disappearing into the shadow below him and dispersing. Cautiously you looked around, his form on the shadows of the building and failing to notice the actual Pitch steadily rising from behind an occupied Jack.

          "Jack, look out!" You call, sending the vine from your sickle towards the scythe he was slowly starting to aim. It stopped his first swing, enough to make him actually turn around and gape. But before he could land his next blow there was the sounds of a whip, the familiar golden dust making your eyes widen. With a tug Pitch went flying off by the handle of his weapon, a loud cry as he disappears from your sight.

          But even from where you stood you could see the almost tornado-shape of gold, the slowly rising outline of a familiar Sandman making a wide smile appear on your face. You couldn't see much, but a moment later Pitch was flying off again, only this time straight up. The golden rope followed his form as he disappeared into the night above, Sandy holding onto it like a kid would a balloon.

          You all rushed towards him right as he was tilting a hat to the awing kids, a raise of his brow and he tugs the rope back down and Pitch pummels into the earth.

          But that didn't matter to you, jumping and catching his body midair right after North tosses him lightly with a loud laugh. He happily hugs back, landing onto the snow with a thump and you let him go. He graciously falls to the floor slowly, a wide smile on his face.

          The pleasantries were put on pause as he rises in his golden cloud, the familiar little ropes of his dreams flying off to do its job.

          You almost got trampled when a large dinosaur foot stomps beside you, a quiet yelp as you jumped to the side. North laughs from your left, Jack in between and he looked just as impressed. There were flying stingrays and dolphins in midair, not helping the happy laugh as, by some miracle, you all managed to save the day.

          You yelp again when something cold hits the side of your face, snapping your head towards Jack with a glare as he innocently laughs. "You change your mind about snow yet?"

          "If that was your way of trying to make me, no, no it didn't." You tried to sound serious, but he broke through that façade by simply smiling and you were in a laughing fit.

          You ended up finding Jamie in the middle of some sort of revelation, cutting it short as Jack gives no special treatment and hits him with the snowball at full speed as well. It put the fight into action, the newly redeemed Guardian laughing proudly at the hijinks he knew that he started from beside you.

          What he probably wasn't expecting was you throwing a snowball at him too, landing square on his cheek as he froze, ironically enough.

          "All's fair in the game of—" You got hit straight in the forehead.

          You spent the next few minutes running around, throwing snowballs at both Jack and other friends and cackling louder than you ever have this entire week. You hit the kids too, nobody was safe.

          Jack flied off in separation a few minutes before, having a small chat with North as you smile. He tosses something to the white-haired male, and you couldn't see much but judging from the smile soon on his face you could only guess that it was important. But you couldn't wallow too much as a baby tooth lands a snowball directly from above you, a quiet chirping giggle before she flies off. "Hey!" You called out with a laugh, trying your best to shake off the snow from your head before quickly jumping right back into the fight.

          "You dare have fun in my presence?!" Of course he had the audacity to put a pause in the celebrations, turning to him right as you threw a snowball towards Bunny. "I am the Boogeyman! And you will fear me!!"

          From your spot you see him charge towards Jamie, but look on in amusement when he phases right through him. Upon realization that he was a goner, he was running off like a coward, rolling your eyes as you tapped Bunny's leg.

          Soon he opened a rabbit hole and you all jumped in, emerging from right beside the frozen lake as you see Pitch running towards you all but not noticing.

          With a thump he bounces off of North's stomach, a chuckle erupting from his throat as he stood tall with his hands on his hips, "Leaving the party so soon?"

          "You didn't even say goodbye," You see Tooth toss a coin, Pitch catching it with a perplexed look, "A quarter?"

          And right after that your friend punches him, cheering loudly when you saw a tooth bounce out of his mouth and clanking the ice. "And that's for my fairies." She says, shaking her wrist and shrugging, a small smile.

          "You can't get rid of me!" He scrambled to his feet, slowly taking steps back, "Not forever! There will always be fear!"

          "So what?" North laughs, "As long as one child believes, we will be here to fight fear."

          "Really?" Pitch slowly cocks his head, the same sense of overconfidence only weakened by the fact that he wasn't in the best spot, "Then what are they doing here?" He gestures to the surrounding edges of land that circled the lake, the huffing forms of his oh-so beloved horses coming into view one by one like a growing army.

          You hummed, shrugging your shoulders as you stared at them indifferently. "Funny, they couldn't be ours," You looked around in fake deep thought, crossing your arms and nodding as though it was a new revelation, "None of us are afraid. Are you afraid, North?"

          "Not one bit." He laughed, the expression on Pitch's face dropping with each passing second.

          "Looks like it's your fear they smell." Jack proudly announces, subtly gesturing to the group as they slowly closed in. When it finally dawned on him he yelped, fucking yelped, and it seemed to be the catalyst of an attack. With a war cry the nightmares charged, rushing straight past your group and towards the coward.

          They closed in on him and pounced, disappearing into smoke to wrap around his body like a writhing tornado. It dragged him into the forest and past the tree line, his screams slowly diminishing the farther he went to no doubt where he belonged. Your biggest guess was under the bed Jack had dragged you under just a mere few hours ago, but that didn't matter.

          Finally safe you released a relieved sigh, turning into a laugh as you elbowed Bunny. "We saved the world!"

          "We really did, didn't we?" He cackled alongside you, North shaking his head at your antics before turning to Jack. He was looking up, only turning to North with a knowing look.

          "Are you ready now, Jack? To make it official." He grins, hands extending to emphasize. Somewhere in front of him was an elf who had a threatening look, a little lost but you laughed quietly either way. "It is time you take oath," He had continued upon receiving a book from a yeti, flipping a page and