literature

The Legend of the Wisp Chapter 22

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Warning: one swear word.

The figure was slim and tall - at least a foot taller than either Jack or Hiccup. His skin was grey and he wore floor length robes of black which seemed to be woven out of the shadows around him. As he moved they would blur and twist at the edges, making it hard to see where they began and the shadows ended. His features were sharp and regal, but what immediately drew everyone's attention were his eyes.

They were a piercing gold that seemed to flicker to a sickly yellow as he observed them. His gaze pinned them to the deck and no one could move.

A deadly quiet had fallen on the ship. No more cries from the crew could be heard, no sound or sight of any movement. It was like they were frozen in a drop of time, surrounded by black, eternal darkness.

A sudden gasp from Rapunzel caused the others to jolt out of their frozen state and they reached for her in concern as she clutched at her chest. The reason for her reaction quickly became clear as, in horror, they watched the light from her hair begin to die.

As the figure moved closer it was as if her magic fled before him – rushing away back up her hair until it vanished into her scalp, leaving her locks looking dull in comparison to their previous golden glow. Her already quiet voice slowly petered out to nothing as she realised her singing wasn't working.

The figure chuckled. "My, you are a curious thing. It's been a long time since I've seen magic like that..."

He looked thoughtful for a moment. "I wonder..." He leant down to pick up some of her hair. As his fingers connected with the strands a look of dark glee crossed his face.

"Well...this is almost better than anything I could have hoped for." His teeth shone white in the darkness.

Rapunzel shuddered and reached for her hair – she flicked it out of his grasp. His eyes fixed on her sharply. "Your magic might have been enough to fend off my power from a distance, but do not presume to think it can protect you when you stand in my presence." He sneered. He began to move towards her.

Jack pulled Rapunzel behind him protectively and, without thinking, Merida drew her bow and aimed an arrow at the approaching figure.

"Stop right there! Who are you?!" Merida barked, mustering her courage. Just because the man in front of her was making her hair stand up on end, didn't mean she was going to let him get away with acting like he owned the place.

He smiled dangerously. They reminded Hiccup of a dragon he had seen once – teeth ready to rip your throat out at a moment's notice if you acted the wrong way. "I am Pitch Black, God of Fear and Father of Nightmares. Everything in here belongs to me and cannot pass without my permission. Who are YOU to have entered my domain so recklessly?"

"I'm Captain Merida and these are my crew. We are on our way to Agrabah" She replied haughtily, choosing to ignore for the moment that she was apparently in the present of a God. If she thought about it too hard she might start shaking and now really wasn't the time to be showing any weakness. Hopefully she could keep all his attention on her and spare her friends.

"I wouldn't be so sure of that, Captain...and I suggest you rest your arms and put that bow away. It won't do you any good" He mocked.

"I think I'll keep hold of it all the same thanks." She said firmly.

He laughed patronisingly. "Oh, dear child keep your little toy if it makes you feel better but it is useless. You can no more touch me than I can touch you."

"Errr...I beg to differ." Jack said, nodding his head in the direction of Rapunzel's hair.

"This child contains magic – it is that which allows me to have physical contact with her...otherwise..."

He suddenly vanished in a swirl of smoke, appearing next to Jack before any of them could blink. His hand reached for Jack's chest and Jack threw his arm up with a cry – which turned to a gasp as Pitch's hand went straight through him.

"You see? My godly powers do not allow me to touch mortals directly without their permission – though your minds are something different entirely." He smiled viciously.

Jack decided he hated Pitch's smile. It made him distinctly nervous – like he was staring into the jaws of a shark. He pressed his hand against his chest to reassure himself it was still solid - he still felt cold from where Pitch went through him which was unnerving in itself: he hardly ever felt the cold.

"What have you done to my crew?" Merida demanded, concerned she couldn't sense any sign of movement from them.

"Oh their minds have merely shut down for the moment." He replied unconcernedly."Whether or not I wake them up and have them scare themselves to death is up to you."

"Up to...me?" Merida said warily. She was well aware that this...God...had them completely at his mercy. If he wanted something from them, she couldn't see why he wouldn't just take it.

"Yes...you wish to pass through my realm is that correct?"

She nodded slowly.

"Well I find that I have taken a liking to your little motley crew here. Since I was banished to this meagre speck of dirt in this pitiful world of yours, it's not often I get to see anything..." his eyes scanned over them hungrily. "..interesting. I shall grant you and all your crew safe passage through my domain this one time...for a price."

The four of them looked at each other, tentative hope on their faces. "We have gold..." Jack offered.

"What use is gold to a God?" Pitch sneered. "Even I if I wished to trade in anything as lowly as your mortal trappings, I am unable to leave my domain. No, I require something else..."

He began to advance on them and they drew their weapons, despite knowing they were useless.

"Wait, what are you – "

"Stay back!"

"What are you doing?"

"Hang on a minute, you can't just – "

The second before he reached them he seemed to melt into a wave of darkness and they screwed their eyes closed as it washed over them.

A moment passed. Possibly two. Their heartbeats were thudding in their ears, as each of them slowly opened their eyes and looked around from their defensive stances.

Each of them were completely and utterly alone.

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Hiccup swung around frantically.

"Merida?! Toothless!"

There was no answering cry, either human or dragon.

"Jack?! Punz?! Where ARE you?!"

A chuckle caused him to spin around and find Pitch standing directly behind him.

He glared at him murderously.

"What have you done with them?!" he demanded.

"Now now, calm yourself little Viking. They are all perfectly fine. I merely prefer to conduct my business in private. Man to man as it were. Or god to man I suppose."

Hiccup sheathed his sword impatiently, knowing it would do him no good. "Fine then – what is it you want?"

"Nothing much – your necklace will do nicely I think. How about it? Your necklace for the freedom and safe passage of the entire crew."

Hiccup paused. "My necklace?" he looked down at the tooth hanging from a leather thread. It was a dragon tooth and his father had given it to him the day before he had been kidnapped – it was supposed to have been good luck for his upcoming dragon killing trial. Despite the fact that he had never agreed with the practise and hadn't intended to go through with it, the necklace was the last piece he had of his home – his family. He was loath to part from it.

"But what does it matter? You're no longer a Viking, no longer one of them. You have a new home now with a certain red headed Captain do you not?"

"Get out of my head!" Hiccup snapped, unnerved by Pitch's voice echoing in his mind.

"It is true though boy, so what will it be? Cling to a remnant of your past or use it to buy freedom for your future? It's your choice."

Hiccup slowly untied the leather thread from around his neck and held it in his palm hesitantly.

"Why do you even want it? What use is it to you?" he asked suspiciously.

"What does it matter? My reasons are my own and I certainly can't harm you with it, so you don't need to worry in that regard. If you wish I could choose your heart or perhaps your other leg...but I image you are decidedly more attached to them." Pitch's eyes gleamed maliciously.

Hiccup wavered a moment longer then, with a sigh, handed over the necklace.

----------------------------------------------------

"Jack?! Merida?! Hiccup?! Anyone?!"

Silence continued to meet Rapunzel's cries.

She clutched a strand of her hair, running it through her fingers nervously.

"Please...don't leave me alone here..."

"Don't worry Princess, you're not alone."

She shrieked as the voice echoed in her head and jumped – not knowing where it was coming from.

Pitch materialized out of the shadows, his gaze predatory.

"I must say, it was such a pleasant surprise to find you on board my dear. Two children of Royalty is wonderful, but three...well." his teeth shone in the darkness. "Not to mention the magic your hair holds is very interesting...may I ask how you came across such power?"

"I was born with it...I've always been like this." Rapunzel said cautiously. Her hands tightened around her hair, pulling it taut between her fists. If he could touch her hair then that meant she could touch him – if he tried anything then she could use it a weapon, providing she could get it around his neck.

Pitch's eyes narrowed as if sensing her thoughts.

"Born with it you say? I sense a certain associate of mine has been interfering in mortal affairs." He looked thoughtful. "That golden glow of yours is rather similar to my old colleague's dream sand – though where he heals the mind your power seems to have manifested for healing the body. Still..." he moved closer, causing Rapunzel to take a step back. "I sense only a drop of his power within your hair – it is nothing I need to fear."

"St-Stay back! I'm not af-!"she choked on her words, unable to say them.

He chuckled. "Not what? Not afraid of me? We both know that's not true. With you I can take what I want and you would be powerless to stop me..." he paused, sighing. "But I promised I would give safe passage this once to all the crew, which includes you unfortunately. Gods are bound to keep their promises – something of which I think you know a little about. A side effect perhaps of Sandman's interference."

Rapunzel's head was swimming with all this information. A God? She got her power from a God? She knew the magical flower that had saved her life in the womb was rumoured to be a gift from the heavens, but she never expected that to be the literal source.

"So the question is Princess Rapunzel – will you give me what I want?"

"I guess that depends on what it is."

"A lock of your hair."

She clutched it to herself protectively, eyes going wide. "My hair?!"

"Don't worry – your magic is safe as long as even a single strand on your head remains uncut, and I only need a few pieces cut from near your scalp. They lose their power once separated from your head so I cannot use your magic for anything nefarious. What do you say? A few locks for the safety of you and your friends doesn't seem too much to ask does it?"

"I suppose not..."

Slowly she retrieved one of her hidden knives and selected a small piece of hair from near her neck at the back of her head that would be easily hidden once it was cut. She lifted the knife towards it but hesitated.

"Isn't this what your hair is for? For saving people? Unless you are selfish enough to keep it and condemn your friends to eternal fear and anguish of course..."

She drew her knife firmly through the strands and watched with a sense of numb detachment as they fell to the ground. The blonde colour faded away like dying leaves and the detached hair turned brown.

Pitch retrieved the lengthy strands and smiled wildly. "Thank you Princess. You have been most helpful."
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"You sneaky grey faced bastard! Show yourself!" Merida screamed into the shadows, spitting with rage.

"My my, you are a fiery one."

Whirling to face him, Merida aimed a punch at his face, stumbling as she fell through his vapour-like form.

"But not too bright perhaps." He mocked.

"Where are they?!" She growled.

"Safe and sound and waiting to be on their way once you have agreed to my deal."

"And what deal is that?"

"It's simple: the freedom and safe passage of you and your entire crew – for a single fiery curl from your head."

"My hair?!" she sputtered. "All this trouble and you just want some of my hair?!"

"Yes, it is rather a good deal isn't it?" he smiled, looked amused at something.

"Why on earth would you want that?"

"It is quite pretty – very distinctive wouldn't you say?" his voice echoed in her mind. "Perhaps I just wish a memento of the 'Ocean's Inferno': the legendary pirate Captain who obeys no man...except a certain Prince I see..."

"I don't obey Mordu." She growled. "I belong to no one!"

"Well that's not quite true...I see a certain Dragon Trainer holds ownership of your heart rather firmly..."

"Get out of my head!" she shook her head viciously in a futile attempt to get rid of him.

"I don't have to be in your head to know your mind Captain. You wear your thoughts all over your face. Now: my deal?"

She glared at him for a moment before reaching up and viciously slicing off a curl with a dagger from her belt.

"Here, take it." She threw it at him.

His form melted and rushed forward to grasp the hair before it reached the ground, his hand solidifying around it in a fist.

"I will. Thank you." He smirked.
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Jack had given up shouting out for his friends. The lack of an answering cry was starting to hurt, and he tried not to think about what might have happened to them. He held his staff in front of him defensively and continued to prowl through the smoke, hoping he could find something – anything –that would lead him to them.

"And then there was one..." Pitch's voice suddenly rattled around his brain, taunting him with visions of being alone forever.

"What have you done? Where are the others?" he gasped. "If you've hurt them I swear I'll..."

"You'll what?" Pitch's voice cut him short. "What can you do exactly? You are no one special, no one important. You hold no power or title, you are merely the spare. Tell me: what can you offer for the safety of your friends?"

Jack stared at Pitch in despair. He was right. What could he offer this God to save them? What on earth did he have to give? Visions of Merida and Hiccup screaming in agony, Toothless howling in despair and Rapunzel's frightened screams swarmed his mind, threatening to overwhelm him.

"Anything." He gasped.

Pitch's triumphant smile made Jack feel like it was a trap door slamming shut.

"In that case I have a simple task for you: a favour for a favour if you will. In exchange for allowing you and your friends to pass through my realm unharmed this time, I want you to take three letters beyond my borders. Once the walls of my realm are out of sight cast them into the air. That is my price for your freedom."

Jack looked at him suspiciously. "Out of curiosity...why don't you just do it yourself?"

"I cannot leave the borders of my realm and they are kept tightly constrained by the amount of fear in the world." He answered impatiently. "Oh in the dark ages I would roam freely across all the kingdoms and the people would bow down in fear...but that was long ago." He sighed wistfully. "Ever since the Guardian War I have been condemned to rot here in this pitiful ink spot out at sea, whilst the peace and harmony of your mortal's precious treaty keeps my beloved fear at bay. But this is of no matter to you." He suddenly cut his reminiscing short, as if only just remembering that Jack was there.

"Do you accept my terms or not?"

It sounded too good to be true but Jack wasn't about to question it and let Pitch change his mind. What harm could throwing a few letters into the ocean really be? "Deal." He said hastily.

Pitch reached into the shadows around him and conjured three black envelopes into his hand. He held them out to Jack who accepted them, unable to completely suppress his sense of dread.

Tucking the letters into his pocket, he turned to Pitch. "Right, I've agreed to your deal. Now bring the others back and let us go."

"One more thing – I require a promise from you."

"Oh?" Jack arched an eyebrow, feeling more confident now he knew their safety was guaranteed.

"I need you to swear that none of you four will ever be seen by your families again."

"...what?" Jack asked dumbfounded.

"It is a simple enough request."

"It's a stupid request is what it is. What does it matter to you if our families never see us again? Not that they're going to anyway, but I can't make that sort of promise for the others!"

"You don't have a choice." Pitch narrowed his eyes.

"Actually I think I do – a favour for a favour remember? Well I've already sealed the deal with you for everyone's safety so I think you'll find I don't have to do squat." He smirked, folding his arms defiantly.

Pitch paused, his nostrils flaring dangerously.

"I see...well perhaps I can offer you something else instead. Something that you dearly want..."

"There's nothing you have that I want." Jack said dismissively.

"Oh no? I've been in your mind Jack Frost. I know there is something you desperately desire...the knowledge of where you come from, of who you once were. Your memories. And I could unlock them for you."

Jack's eyes flew wide and he took a slight step back, feeling stunned. "I...you...you can?"

"Indeed. True they are sealed away quite firmly by some magic, but that is precisely what allows me to access them. That, and the fact that I can practically smell the fear engrained within them, though I cannot tell exactly what they contain. It would not be too much trouble for me to release them if you wish – in exchange for a promise of course. A favour for a favour."

Jack was torn. To know that the memories he had longed for as long as he could remember were only a promise away...but he would have to swear something on the other's behalf. Something he didn't know if they would want.

"What does it matter?" Pitch spoke into his mind, reading his thoughts. "As you said, none of you will ever see your families again anyway. Hiccup is branded an outcast, Merida cannot return without being forced into an unhappy marriage and the only reunion Rapunzel would ever have is to be imprisoned within her tower once more..."

It was true. On the rare occasions the conversation ever turned to their previous lives, Merida and Hiccup were certain they could never return. They had gone out of their way to avoid going to either Berk or Dunbroch, and the chances they would come across a member of their families out on the high seas was extremely unlikely. Rapunzel had fought so hard for her freedom that he didn't see her ever wanting to go back, especially since the moment she showed her face again she was likely to be locked up more securely than ever.

"What happens if I promise this and their families still see them anyway? Jack asked cautiously.

"Then you would die." Pitch replied matter of factly. "Something I'm sure you wish to avoid, so I wouldn't advise it. Your little blonde friend would be most upset at your untimely demise I'm sure."

"Leave her out of this." Jack snapped.

"My my. Touchy subject is she? And here I thought you were trying to convince yourself she didn't mean anything to you…."

"I – she…."

"You can't hide anything from me Jack. But what do I care of your little romance? Do we have an agreement or not?"

Jack pushed aside his confused feelings for Rapunzel for now and focused on the decision in front of him. So his life was the payment should he fail to enforce the promise? At least, he supposed, none of his friends would ever suffer any consequences from it...

He came to a decision. It was likely they would never see their families again anyway, but if the situation came up he would not stand in the way of his friend's wishes. Whatever happened, happened. So the question was: was he willing to gamble his life for the chance of retrieving his memories?

He decided he was. His life as a pirate was pretty much a gamble anyway, so what was one more risk?

"Fine. Deal."

Pitch held out his hand and Jack took it hesitantly. Shudders ran up his spine as they shook on it, the feel of Pitch's grasp sending shivers of terror along his skin. He dropped it as soon as he could.

"What the...?!"He looked at his hand and watched in disgust and fear as a black spot appeared on his palm, growing until it was about the size of a doubloon.

"It is the mark of your promise – a reminder, if you will. The mark means I will always be able to find you no matter where you may be – it binds you to me."

Jack shuddered in disgust and ripped off a strip of material from his shirt to tie around his hand and hide the mark. "Fine. Now how about my memories? You need to keep your side of the bargain."

"Do not presume to tell me what I must and must not do boy." His eyes shone dangerously. "I am well aware of what a God's promise means." He said nothing more but leant forward and pressed a single finger upon Jack's forehead.

That was the last thing Jack saw before he fell to his knees screaming in agony.
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cookieloveroverhere's avatar
oh com on Pitch sheeesh already plotting on you're evil plan are you. (and maybe Pitch will only let him see the dark sides of his memory because he is the God of fear and nightmares but i don't know)
YOU MEANIE YOU! 
Pitch: WHAT NOW! ofcourse i need to be evil ! you think i'm going to give up that easly? 
Me: DON"T YOU DARE HURT THEM or else i'm gonna hit you with the frying pan !
Pitch: sloud i be scared of you ? 
Me: WHOEHAHAHAH YOU SLOUD!