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[greatbigfour]

22. A New Day

“It’s Thanksgiving!” shouted Jamie as he bounced on his parents’ bed, with them still buried under the covers.

“Not for another five minutes, Jamie,” groaned JJ as he pulled the covers over his head.

“But the party at Air ‘N’ Dale starts in thirty minutes!”

“We’ll get there, don’t worry,” mumbled MK as she rolled over.

“But it takes you ten minutes to get up, ten minutes to get ready, and another ten to get there!”

“Exactly,” mumbled both JJ and MK.

“What? But . . .”

“Nice of you to figure out our vacation sleep pattern so quickly,” quipped JJ.

“He gets that from me, you know.”

JJ opened one eye at MK, “Oh, so you’re saying I’m not smart?”

“Nah, just not good detective material,” MK grinned.

“Hey!” Jamie groaned as he fell back, landing between them.

“Well, you’re awake enough now to be flirting, can we get ready to go now?”

“Well why aren’t you ready to go?”

“Because the first thing I had to do was wake you up.”

JJ stifled a yawn as he slowly rose from the bed, “Well, we’re awake now, you can start getting ready.”

“Yes!” whooped Jamie as he bounced off the bed and raced towards his room. JJ just groaned and plopped back on the bed.

“You really should get new pajamas,” commented MK as she stretched. JJ glanced at his cartoony Jack O’Lantern pajamas before eyeing MK with a slight glare.

“Shut up,” he muttered as he began to tickle her. She giggled before the two eventually leaned in for a kiss.

“Mom! Dad!”

JJ groaned and rolled his eyes, “We’re getting ready! Hold your horses!”

About thirty minutes later, as JJ had predicted, the young family pulled into the parking lot of Air ‘N’ Dale. Jamie just about tumbled out of the car in his excitement to get into the party hall. His parents made him slow down long enough to help bring the dishes in.

“Well, howdy there, partner! Got enough rest these past two days?”

“He he, not quite enough, especially this morning,” JJ stated, eyeing Jamie. Jamie just grinned sheepishly.

“Well, maybe you can tomorrow, that is, if Jamie wants to be a deputy for a day.”

“Really? I can?”

“If it’s alright with your parents,” winked Woody.

“Yes,” stated MK and JJ in unison.

Buzz laughed as he joined them, “I don’t think JJ would ever say no to you, Woody. And maybe, on Saturday, you can come help me get the observatory up and running!”

“Awesome! Can I?”

MK and JJ glanced at each other, sighing, “Yes.”

“Sweet! Now let’s go find a spot. I’m starving!”

“Jamie, you just had breakfast!” It didn’t matter, as Jamie was soon swept into a game with his friends, and everyone else was finally getting a chance to meet JJ and the rest of the toys. MK wandered over to her parents, and noticed a glum look on Hiccup’s face.

“Dad?”

Hiccup sighed, “Well, everything’s almost back to normal, except for Gobber.”

“Oh, right, have the Sandy’s . . .”

“The Sandy’s have,” quipped Sandy as she and the Sandman walked past. Hiccup glanced at her in surprise.

“You mean . . .”

“Hiccup!”

“Gobber!”

“Looks like the Sandy’s had an extra stash of feathers after all!” Gobber grinned and he and Hiccup embraced.

“Really?”

Sandy nodded, “Yup, so we went ahead and used them all on restoring memories potions. Hope you don’t mind.”

“Oh, not at all,” chuckled Hiccup.

“I don’t think anyone needs to leave anytime soon,” smiled MK.

“Gobber! You’re back!” smiled Valka, as she, Merida, and the other Vikings approached the table. The group began chatting away gaily. MK slowly backed out, and took a glance at JJ and Jamie. Jamie was still playing with his friends, but JJ saw her and waved her over. She walked towards him, and he placed his arm over her shoulders, pulling her close. He gave her a quick Eskimo kiss before turning his attention back to Gramma Norma’s stories about the town. The kids soon joined them, Jamie grabbing each of his parents’ hands. MK noticed the glum look.

“Hey kid, why so down?”

“Oh, just about everyone in Cedar Grove is here, except . . .”

JJ raised an eyebrow, “Jamie?” MK sighed as she glanced around the hall, she knew who Jamie was talking about, Heather had the same look on her face.

“Listen kid, she’ll come out when she’s ready.”

“Who? Mavis? But didn’t she . . .” MK put up her hand to stop JJ.

“Yeah, Mavis. Dad, like Pitch, there’s still some good in her. But, it might be easier to get it out of Mavis than Pitch, right?”

MK nodded, “Right.”

“So, you’re OK with me missing her?”

“Yes.”

“And if I still call her mom?”

“Of course, she was your mother for nine years, and I know she does love you. If she shows up, it’ll be for you, and Heather.”

“Mavis?” Everyone went quiet as the former Mayor walked into their midst with A Faraway Land clutched to her chest.

“Mom?”

“I, I’m going to take you up on your deal, Jack Frost.”

Jack stepped closer, “What deal?”

Mavis took a breath, “I’ll, I’ll patch things up with Merida and Hiccup, if you, if you’ll help me and Heather find our true loves.”

“Uh, no.”

“What?”

“That’s not enough. If you want me to find your true love, and Heather’s true love, you can’t just patch things up with Merida and Hiccup. You also need to discredit everything your mom has ever told you, accept that what Mer, Hiccup, and Heather have been telling you was the truth, and start being a real Mayor and get to know the people of the town.”

“Really?”

“Seriously, I mean, I’m having to take time away from my family, it’s only fair.”

Mavis began to smile, “Well, you should be happy to know that I do believe everything they have told me is the truth, and I have only found a few moments when my mother actually told the truth.” She turned to Merida and Heather, “I am so sorry for everything I put you through.” Merida walked up to her, and held out her hand. Mavis shook it gratefully as a cheer went up.

“Well, guess that means we’ve got ourselves a deal,” grinned Jack.

“Yes! Best Thanksgiving ever!” whooped Jamie as he rushed in to hug Mavis. “We are now the town of Happily Ever After!” Everyone laughed and cheered at that, but no one saw the look that passed between Jack and Hiccup. But for how long before trouble came knocking at their doors? As they would soon find out, not long as trouble was already brewing at Dream Lake.

The big man stepped up to the wall draped in a scaly cloak, “I know you’re there, Pitch Black, I want to talk to you. I have a plan that will destroy Hiccup Haddock and Jack Frost, and get us both what we want.”

Pitch stepped out of the shadows, “I’m listening.” 

[greatbigfour]

21. Light the Way

“Well, what do you say? Put down the magnifying glass, and I’ll let him go.”

Jack aimed his staff at Pitch, “How do we know you’ll do as you say.”

Pitch’s tendril began to lower Jamie to the ground, “I will, don’t you worry. It’s JJ I want, after all.”

“Why do you want him?” asked Rapunzel.

‘Well why else, to make him my darkling prince. And who better than the son of Jack Frost and Rapunzel who is clearly Jack O’Lantern, a figure associated with the haunting terrors of Halloween?”

“Jack O’Lantern represents the fun of Halloween, just like Jack Frost is the fun of winter!”

“Quite right, that’s way too much fun.”

“Let them go and take me instead!”

“Jack!”

“Dad, no!”

“What? You?” Pitch laughed, “As tempting as that sounds, I think I’ll have to pass.”

“What? No, Pitch, listen!”

“I am the one who should be by your side, Father.” Everyone turned to look at the newcomer. Actually, newcomers, Woody and the toys had arrived, alerted now doubt by the sensors they had been given to let them know if JJ was in trouble. With them was Justin, who had clearly had enough time to think things through and realize he had been played, and Emily Jane, Mother Nature, the real child of Pitch Black. Stormclouds rumbled in the distance as they rushed in and blocked the sun. “Have you really forgotten about me, Father?” Emily whispered. Pitch took a step towards her, an undeniable longing in his eyes fighting it out with forgetfulness. “Come back to me, Father, come home.” The Nightmares around Pitch began to get restless as the distance between the two shortened, they were pawing the ground as if in anger. Was Emily winning, was Pitch’s love for his daughter winning? No one moved, no one even dared breathe out of fear of breaking Pitch’s concentration.

Pitch reached out to touch her face as she got closer, “Em-Emily?”

“Yes, Father, it’s me. I’m here, I’m alive,” she whispered, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. There was a soft gasp uttered from the group, though Pitch didn’t seem to notice, as Pitch seemed to change. He was beginning to look human, almost normal, starting with the hand that touched her face and it spread throughout his body. The Nightmares reared and charged. “No!” cried out Emily, knowing what they wanted to do. But Jack, Hiccup, and the Sandman jumped into action, taking out as many Nightmares as they could, but one got through and separated father and daughter again.  

“What, what was that? What were you trying to do to me?” growled Pitch as he instantly changed back.

Emily shot the Nightmare with a bolt before answering with, “I was trying to get my father back.” Pitch took a step back.

“I am not your father,” he growled. “And Jack O’Lantern will be my darkling prince.”

“No!” shouted Emily as the stormclouds parted to reveal the glare of the setting sun. The glare momentarily blinded Pitch, but it was long enough for Sandy to snatch up the magnifying glass and Rapunzel to get back into position, and begin singing.

“Flower, gleam and glow, let your power shine . . .”

“No!” shouted Pitch, but Bo Peep and the toys were already setting about freeing JJ and Jamie while Jack, the Sandman, MK, Merida, Hiccup, Buzz, Woody, Jessie, and Justin, who now had a sword, provided cover.

“Make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine . . .” Jack rushed Pitch.

“Your son will be mine!”

“Never!” yelled Jack as he sent a stream of ice at Pitch. The Sandman quickly stepped in, and between the two, began to make Pitch take step by little step back towards the shield.

“Heal what has been hurt, change the fates design . . .”

“We got Jamie out!” exclaimed Bo. MK rushed in, she and Jamie embracing.

“What about Dad?”

“They’re working on it, you get out of here!” MK nodded, grabbed Jamie’s hand, and rushed away from the battle.

“Save what has been lost, bring back what once was mine, what once was mine.”

“No!” shouted Pitch as a yellow light shimmered over the shield.

“Jack, just shoot some light through the glass!” shouted Sandy. With a yell, Jack did just that, sending an ice blue light flying through the magnifying glass towards the shield. But doing that took Jack’s attention off of Pitch, who hit him with some black sand and sent him sprawling.

“Jack!” Rapunzel raced towards him as the ice blue light hit the shield and shimmered through it like a ripple. Pitch let out a roar before locking eyes with JJ.

“So, this is how it’s going to be, huh?” Pitch glanced at MK and Jamie.

“No! Leave them alone!” JJ let out a yell as his body seemed to glow.

“What the?”

“JJ!” A wave of light burst from JJ’s body, the momentum of which sent Pitch flying through the shield, destroyed several Nightmares, and everyone else to the ground, JJ was breathing hard as he straightened up to face Pitch, and an orange light rippled through the shield.

“You won’t touch them,” growled JJ. Pitch rose and touched the shield, a rainbow of lights rippling off from where he had touched it.

“Only as long as you keep them here, Jack O’Lantern, but once you or they step outside of this shield, you are mine.” Pitch gave a cruel laugh before disappearing into the shadows.

“No, Father!”

Jack jumped up and grabbed Emily, “No, wait Emily! If you step through the shield, you’ll forget him!”

“I almost had him . . .”

“I know.”

“I was so close . . .” She paused and glanced down, Jamie had hugged her.

“We know, we thought you had him too. But, I got my dad back, I’m sure we’ll get yours back too,” smiled Jamie.

Emily smiled back, “Thank you Jamie, I’m sure we will too. We just need an extra push, is all.”

“Right! And next time, we’ll be ready for him!”

JJ chuckled softly, “You got that right. We should be able to save him for sure.”

“Thanks you guys. I should get back, Johnny might be getting worried about me.”

“Alright, take care Emily, we’ll see you later,” stated Hiccup as he patted her shoulder and gave her a look full of understanding. She nodded before turning and walking away.

Meanwhile, Jack approached Justin, “So, um, thanks, for helping us.”

Justin shrugged, “Thought it was the best I could do considering what I had done. I’m real sorry Jack, I seriously thought it was you. But the Sandman, though it was hard to understand him at first . . .” Jack snickered. “Along with North, Bunny, and Tooth, they all came by to tell me otherwise. So, I believe them, but, I swear, that guy I saw looked exactly like you!”

Jack nodded, “I know, I believe you.”

“I know you do, my biggest concern is, who was that really? And how could he look like you?”

“You’re positive there wasn’t any differences between the two, at all?” asked MK as she stepped closer.

Justin shook his head, “None that I saw.”

“Could it have been Pitch?” asked Hiccup.

“It’s possible, but why would he need to do that?”

JJ shrugged, “I wouldn’t know. Unless it’s someone else . . .”

“Someone still back on the other world . . .” Jack drifted off. Everyone glanced at each other, trying to think of something.

“Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I’ve had my work-out for the day,” quipped Mr. Potato Head as he tried to crack his back. They all laughed.

“Oh alright, let’s head home. I think we’ve all had our work-out for today,” stated Hiccup. The others agreed and followed him back into town.

[greatbigfour]

20. All Over Again

Sunset approached quickly, but the group was already at Dream Lake, waiting for the Sandy’s to arrive.

“Where are they? They should have been here by now,” wondered MK.

“They did say sunset, right?” asked Rapunzel.

“They most certainly did. It was almost midday when we noticed that Pitch was attacking,” pointed out Jack. “There might be one ingredient that is being oddly elusive today.”

Hiccup sighed, “That’s the only other explanation, besides them having to leave Cedar Grove for one ingredient, and Pitch capturing them.”

“Would he be able to come in if he did capture them?” asked Jamie.

“I, I don’t know, I didn’t think to ask that,” stated Jack. They all glanced at each other in shock.

“It would explain why Pitch has stopped attacking,” began Hiccup.

Jack shook his head, “Another reason is the light, he became weaker as the sun got higher and hasn’t regained his full strength.”

Jamie sighed as he paced around, “Well I’m tired of waiting! I want to see some action! At least, before I fall asleep.”

“Are you getting tired?” asked Jack with a grin.

“What? No I’m not!”

JJ glanced at them, “Maybe you do need to fall asleep.”

“What?” exclaimed everyone, Jamie the loudest.

“When does the Sandman come?” smiled JJ.

“What? But I wanted to see everything!”

“Well . . .”

“Maybe you should go to sleep if you’re going to make so much noise!”

“Sandy!” blurted Merida.

“Sandy!” blurted Jack. The witch rolled her eyes while the Sandman waved cordially with a big smile on his face.

Sandy pulled out a phial of pale purple light, “Getting together the ingredients. Really, it nearly took all day to get enough light into here with everything else!”

“All day, huh? No wonder you’re late,” quipped Jack as he glanced at Hiccup, who merely grinned sheepishly back.

“Well, now that those hours have been well wasted, let’s get to work. Rapunzel needs to go first, before the sun is completely set.”

Jack glanced at the horizon, “Kind of cutting it close, don’t you think?”

“We know, so we need to get started now. Rapunzel, stand as close as you can to the shield, with your back up against it.” Rapunzel turned and stepped back up against the shield, her hair just about touching the shimmering wall.

“Um, like this?”

“Perfect, now hold that position, and when I tell you to, start singing.”

“Um, OK.” Sandy turned to the pack they had brought with them and began mumbling about where something was.

“Of all the times to lose something,” Jack rolled his eyes, and shot Rapunzel a shrug and a grin. She smiled back, but the smile instantly disappeared when Jack’s did.

“Punz, look out!” He pushed her out of the way as a shadow barreled through, catching Jack in its momentum, sending the two tumbling.

“Jack!”

“Dad!” Jack was back on his feet, and sent a stream of ice through the Nightmare, dissipating it.

“There’s more coming!”

“Well Jamie, looks like you got your wish, as here comes the action!” exclaimed MK as she and Merida shot a few arrows through the Nightmares.

“JJ, time to put those powers to work!” Jack exclaimed as he sent a wave of ice through the Nightmares coming through the shield. “On it!” JJ closed his eyes and spread his hands, little glowing orbs came floating out of the ground.

“Will-o-the-wisps,” gasped Merida. JJ opened his eyes, and each wisp tore through a Nightmare, but more was coming through. The Sandman flew in to help Jack and JJ fend off the Nightmares as Hiccup took to Toothless, the Nightfury helping where he could with his fire. Rapunzel began to move towards them, her hair in her hand, when Sandy stopped her.

“Rapunzel, get back into position, quick! We can slow them down!”

‘Oh, right!” Rapunzel and Sandy raced towards a spot clear from battle, and began to set up to try again. Rapunzel glanced between Sandy’s frantic digging through the bag and the battle. “Hurry, Sandy!”

“What do you think I’m doing?”

“Sandy!” exclaimed Rapunzel as a Nightmare broke from its group and charged. An arrow shattered it, embedding itself in the ground not far from where Sandy searched the bag. Rapunzel glanced at Merida, and the two nodded. Rapunzel quickly picked up the arrow and held it in her hands like a sword, ready to use it if another Nightmare charged.

“Oh where is that magnifying glass?” A scream seemed to ring out as one of Toothless’ fire balls tore through several Nightmares.

“A magnifying glass?” asked Rapunzel. Another screaming fireball, courtesy of Morrigan. Jack let out a yell as he slashed through several, Hiccup taking out several more with his flaming sword.

“Yes, a piece of glass that magnifies things!”

“Are you sure you don’t need my help?”

“Stay in position!”

“Jamie, go stand by Rapunzel and Sandy!” ordered MK. Jamie dashed towards Rapunzel.

“Ah-ha!” Sandy pulled out the magnifying glass as Jamie neared them.

“Alright! Let’s do this!”

“Mom! Dad!” Jamie’s scream, followed soon by JJ’s made everyone pause. Two shadow tendrils had snaked their way towards JJ and Jamie unseen, until each one had wrapped itself around them and lifted them off the ground.

“No! Jamie! Let him go! You have me now!”

Cruel laughter met their ears as a figure emerged from the shadows, “Now, why would I do that? Oh wait, maybe I’ll let him go if you don’t fortify this shield. What do you say? Looks like I have the upper hand.”

[greatbigfour]

19. It’s Happening

Immediately after breakfast, the group went to Overland’s Antiques and Oddities to check on Rapunzel and Jack. They were chatting away gaily of times past, Rapunzel now having remembered some of what happened to them in her fairy tale.

“This is wonderful! You’re remembering more and more!” exclaimed JJ.

“Yeah, but, how is she able to remember bits and pieces, but not Gobber?” asked Hiccup.

“Maybe because Jack was wearing the enchanted scarf when he caught her,” suggested Jamie.

“That’s one possibility,” muttered MK.

“There’s another?” asked Merida.

“Yes, JJ.”

“Wait, what?”

“Jack was able to engrave my name in his mind, using it as a trigger to release his memories. What if Rapunzel did the same thing unknowingly with JJ’s name?”

“That’s, that’s actually very plausible,” stated Hiccup.

“Very plausible? I think MK hit the nail square on its head!” grinned JJ, planting a kiss on her cheek.

“It would make sense why I started remembering not long after I met JJ.”

“Well, if that’s the case, then Sandy and I don’t have to worry too much about getting the feathers for Rapunzel, just have to worry about Gobber.”

“Though it would be a good idea to have a few extra on hand, just in case,” pointed out Hiccup.

“That is quite true, we’ll do that for sure.” Everyone paused, the lights in the store began to flicker.

“What the?”

“Jack, did you forget to pay your electric bill?”

“What? No.”

JJ gasped as he walked to the storefront, “Pitch.”

“Oh no, he’s attacking the shield!” exclaimed Jamie as the others joined them at the front. Wave after wave of Nightmares descended on the town, ramming into the shield. The shield glowed with a rainbow of colors every time they hit before fading back into clear.

“But why is he doing it in the middle of the day?” asked Jack. The Sandman shrugged.

“What if, what if he can’t find the weak spot at night?” suggested MK.

“That’s a possibility,” muttered Sandy.

“Possibility or not, he’s heading for Dream Lake pretty quick,” remarked Merida.

“He’ll make it there in time for night, when he’ll be stronger,” muttered Jack.

“Rapunzel, do you remember your powers?”

“Oh, yes.”

“Alright, Pitch isn’t going to make it to Dream Lake until tonight. Sandy, Gothi, and I are going to make sure we have everything needed to reinforce the shield. Meet you at Dream Lake at sunset!” blurted Sandy as she grabbed the Sandman and bolted out of the store, right as a few other people walked in.

“Apparently they have a plan,” muttered Jack.

“Hiccup, what’s going on? Who’s attacking us?” asked Prince Antonio.

“It’s Pitch Black, the Boogeyman.” Hiccup glanced at JJ, “He trying to get Jack and Rapunzel’s son.”

“Well, then, what are we going to do?” asked Ella.

Hiccup let out a breath, “Spread the word, have everyone meet at Town Hall in two hours, we’ll explain everything then.”

‘Um, OK,” shrugged Antonio as he left.

“We’ll help,” stated Woody as he and the toys followed Antonio out the door.

“You don’t have much of a plan, do you?” quipped Shrek.

Jack let out a breath, “That’s not it, we don’t have the plan, the Sandy’s do, and they’ve gone to get everything we’re going to need. Though, JJ, Punz, and I are on that list.”

“We’ll explain it to the best of our knowledge,” stated Hiccup.

Rick sighed, “Alright, it had better be good.” He, Ella, and Shrek left.

“Dad?” Jack had turned to look at the window, dead determination set in his eyes.

He glanced at JJ, “I am not going to lose you again, not after I just got you back, both of you.” Rapunzel gave him a hug.

“We’re not going anywhere yet, and if we work together, he can’t win.”

“Exactly what you’re going to do,” pointed out Jamie with a grin.

“Yeah, later, right now is the agonizing wait,” stated Jack.

“And, in a couple of hours, the annoying sharing of information with the public,” Hiccup sighed. “Speaking of, I should head over to Town Hall and get everything set up.”

“That will take you a while!” blurted Merida.

MK blinked, “Wait, what happened at Town Hall?”

“Mavis threw a temper tantrum in there. She didn’t break anything, thankfully, but it’s still a mess, and I have two hours to get it in shape.”

Merida sighed, “I’ll help.”

“Thanks Mer.”

“I’ll help too, and I’ll pick up something for lunch on the way.”

“Sounds great, thanks MK.”

“I’ll stay here for a bit in case anybody comes in looking for information,” stated Jack.

“I’ll stay with you,” smiled Rapunzel.

“Me too,” stated JJ.

“Well, guess that means I’m going with Mom . . . to work,” groaned Jamie.

“You can keep an eye on the food while we work and direct, maybe.”

“Hiccup! He can take care of a few things, my goodness, I’ve already allowed him to skip a full week’s worth of school.”

Hiccup shot Jamie an apologetic grin, “Sorry, but you heard your grandma.”

“Loud and clear,” muttered Jamie as the four left the store. Hiccup and Merida took the dragon straight to Town Hall while MK and Jamie stopped by Goodie Tree to pick up lunch before meeting them there. When they arrived, they saw the sad state of Town Hall, chairs were thrown about, tables were overturned, and tapestries had been taken off the wall.

“Wow, you weren’t kidding when you said she made a mess without breaking anything,” commented MK as she glanced around in surprise.

“Well, that’s Mom for you, she’s pretty nit-picky about breaking anything,” quipped Jamie.

“Well that’s good to know. I get her mad, and she won’t break anything.” MK let out a sigh and rolled up her sleeves, “Well, let’s get this done.” The four went to work, even getting the help of the dragons with a few things and managed to get it mostly straightened. Meanwhile Jack, Rapunzel, and JJ visited, chatting away for the whole two hours, basically, since Fiona was the only person to come in to find out about the meeting at Town Hall. But too soon, the time came for the meeting, and the hall was packed with the citizens of Cedar Grove.

“Hey, everyone calm down, please, let me finish!” blurted Hiccup once he explained about the Boogeyman’s attacks.

“The Boogeyman is attacking our town, how did you expect us to react?” exclaimed Paula Wiggins.

“We don’t know what will happen once the shield comes down!” pointed out Dracula.

“Well, I need to to calm down and let me finish! There’s more!”

“What more could there be?” blurted Randolph as he crossed his arms, the father of the twelve princesses.

“The Sandy’s know of a way to utilize Jack’s, Rapunzel’s, and JJ’s powers to fortify the shield against Pitch . . .”

“Well, where are they?” asked Shrek.

“They are double-checking to see if there’s anything else they might need and gathering those ingredients.” Everyone glanced at each other.

“Oh, so, you guys basically have it all under control?” asked Eret.

“Well, the Sandy’s basically do, we still have no clue what it is that needs to be done. They told us to meet them at Dream Lake by sunset, that’s all,” shrugged Jack.

“Which would mean that, once that’s taken care, the only way he could get in, is if one of us lets him in,” continued Hiccup.

“And we know Mavis won’t let him in,” pointed out Astrid.

“But that would leave Gobber . . .” began Eret.

“Oh, Eret, Dracula, how’s Gobber doing?”

“So far so good, I have convinced him to stay away from the city line until  the Sandy’s can put together a special medicine for him, so, no worries about him.”

“Um, thanks, so, once Jack and his family have helped the Sandy’s fortify the shield, there will be no worries. I just called you all here today to give you the basic run-down of what’s going on.”

“Well, thank you for that, Hiccup, we can rest a little easier tonight knowing that Pitch won’t get in,” commented Granny Puckett.

Hiccup nodded, “You’re welcome.” JJ raised his hand. “Uh, yes, JJ?”

“May I make a suggestion?”

“Uh, yeah, go for it.”

“I know it’s a bit early, but, what if, instead of heading back to work, you all start putting up your Christmas lights, Pitch hates light.”

“That’s right! The more light the better! And, and, you have a party! Anna, Elsa, sorry for the late notice, but, would it be alright to have something of a pre-Thanksgiving party?”

Anna grinned, “Sure!”

Elsa shrugged, “Sounds fine by me.”

“Oh, oh, I’ll help with putting up decorations!” waved Olaf.

Kristoff scoffed, “I think we can all help with that. Don’t worry about the fun Jack, we’ve got that handled.”

Jack grinned, “Thanks you guys. Now, all we need to do is fortify that shield, and we’re good.”

Hiccup glanced at the clock, “Well, we should end this meeting now if we’re going to get anything done, and so Jack and his family can prepare.”

“Right!” chorused several voices. As the crowd exited the hall, chatter echoed off the walls as everyone began talking about the latest developments and their Christmas displays.

“Think it’ll help?” asked Hiccup.

“Only one way to find out, at Dream Lake,” replied Jack.

[greatbigfour]

18. A Surprise

“Pitch Black, at the Cedar Grove line? How did he find us?” exclaimed Hiccup.

“More importantly, why didn’t he come in?” asked MK.

“Oh that’s easy, someone from Cedar Grove would have to be the one to allow him in. An ingenious method put up by Mavis, actually, and for which I am very grateful for,” explained Sandy.

“What do you mean?”

Let me put it this way, she allowed Jamie in, Jamie allowed you in, and you, Jack, and Jamie allowed JJ in, while Sandy and I allowed the toys in.”

“So, only someone from Cedar Grove can allow someone on the outside to come in, right?” asked Hiccup.

“Right, so he can’t get in unless one of us lets him in.”

JJ let out a big breath of relief, “Oh, that’s good news.”

“But what about his nightmares? Can’t they get through?” asked Woody.

“It’s a possibility, but I don’t see how that could help him,” remarked Sandy.

“So, we’re fine for now, right?” asked Hiccup.

“Exactly, for now, he can still force his way in if no one lets him in.”

“Where and how?” asked Jack.

“The strongest point of the magic shield is at the road, the weakest point is on the  opposite side, over by Dream Lake. If he uses his nightmares to ram it enough times, he could create a hole large enough for him to get through. It would take an hour for that hole to close again whereas at the road, it would take a couple of minutes.”

“So, if Pitch starts thinking about finding an opening . . .” began Hiccup.

“We’re going to have to fight him, weaken him enough to where he can’t get in through Dream Lake,” finished Jack. The Sandman nodded. The others sighed.

“So, we’re still going to have to face him one way or another?” sighed JJ as he rubbed his forehead.

“Sure looks that way, but we don’t have to do anything just yet. First, Jack, JJ, we are going to have to find a way to reinforce the shield with your powers. We’ll need Rapunzel’s powers too, but we can include hers later, once she remembers everything.” The door burst open and Jamie stood panting.

“Jamie! What’s wrong?” asked MK as she and JJ rushed to him.

“Rapunzel’s . . . heading for . . . the city line . . . wouldn’t . . . listen . . . to me,” he gasped. JJ and Jack took a single glance at each other and bolted out the door. Jack flew off, while MK, JJ, and Jamie got situated in the car with Woody and Jessie. Hiccup called to Buzz, who followed him to Toothless, while the Sandman created an airplane for him and Sandy to ride in, leaving Bo Peep with the rest of the toys.

“How did you know Rapunzel was heading for the city line?” MK asked Jamie.

“Grandma needed some more art supplies, so I volunteered to get the stuff for her. When I got to the art studio, Rapunzel was looking kind of lost and was acting clumsy and forgetful. I wondered if she was getting my memories back, so I didn’t say anything and got everything together. But when I went to check-out, she told me it was free and walked out! I followed her and asked where she was going. She told me she was looking for someone coming into town. I tried to get her to come back, but she refused to listen, so, I went to get you guys.”

JJ smiled at him, “Good move, Jamie. I just hope we’re not too late.”

“Your dad can fly, he’ll make it,” MK reassured him. By the time everyone converged at the city line, Jack was already there, pulling Rapunzel away from it.

JJ jumped out of the car, “Mom!” Everyone paused as Rapunzel glanced at him with the same weird look she had given him when he told her his name. She walked slowly towards him, and gently touched his face.

“I do know you, don’t I?”

“You should . . . Mom,” whispered JJ.

“But why can’t I remember?”

“That’s because of the magic shield. If you cross that line without any magical protection, you’ll forget who you really are,” explained Jack.

“And, and I fell over the line,” whispered Rapunzel. Jack nodded. “And all I can remember is that Sarah May came into my store one day, I don’t remember anything else about, about Cedar Grove.” She laid her head on Jack’s shoulder. “I want to remember.”

Jack pulled her close, “There is a way to get those memories back, we’re just missing an ingredient. We’re still looking for it, don’t worry, we just ran out of stock.”

“Out of stock?”

“Yeah, um, it was a limited stock too. Unfortunately, we’ve used up everything we had.”

“Oh sure, that’s . . .”

“Ra . . . Rose?”

“Jack?”

“You, you remember?”

“Flashes, here and there.” Jack smiled a big smile.

“Why were you heading for the border?” asked MK.

Rapunzel glanced at her, “I, I was looking . . . looking for someone.”

“Maybe me?”

Rapunzel glanced at him, “Wait, JJ?”

“Hi . . . Mom.”

“Punz, do you, do you remember what happened with Justin? Do you remember being in his house?”

Sandy laid a hand on Jack’s arm, “I think we should have this conversation elsewhere.” She glanced at the city line.

Jack nodded, “Right, um, should we head over to the Goodie Tree for lunch, on me?”

Hiccup grinned, “I don’t think anyone could pass up that offer.”

“Then let’s go,” remarked Jack and, picking up Rapunzel, flew off, the others following in their different modes of transportation. MK and JJ stopped by the art studio to pick up the things Jamie needed before dropping him off at school. They quickly explained to Merida what had happened before taking off to join the others at the Goodie Tree.

They talked for quite a while with Rapunzel after lunch, figuring out what she remembered, and when she began to remember. As she had mentioned, it had been coming back to her in flashes, a feeling here, a phrase there, sometimes a scent. The only full memory she had, so to speak, was of Gothel and Pitch kidnapping her and JJ, the first thing she remembered not long after Jack left her at her house the night before. It had been nothing but flashes after that, it was like putting the pieces together in a puzzle. Except she had Jack to help put them in place.

JJ spent that evening with the Haddocks, MK, and Jamie, Jack and Rapunzel wanting some time alone .

“Well, it’s wonderful that she’s getting some of her memories back,” stated Merida once she and Jamie had been brought up to date.

“Yes, and . . . yeah, very good timing.”

“What do you mean?”

“Weren’t we just talking this morning about needing Jack’s, JJ’s, and Rapunzel’s powers to fortify the shield against Pitch?”

MK’s eyes widened, “You’re right Dad, it is really good timing!”

“Which could mean only one thing,” muttered Jamie.

“Oh yeah, and what’s that?” asked JJ.

“The Man in the Moon is still watching over us.” As if as one, everyone glanced out the window at the moon.

“I don’t think he’s stopped watching,” muttered JJ. “But it might be time for us to communicate.”

[greatbigfour]

17. Finding a Solution

Though they got back to Merida’s and Hiccup’s a little after eight, the trio didn’t get to bed until well after eleven, having to explain everything to Hiccup and Merida. And so, JJ had his unceremonious introduction to the in-laws. Hiccup did shoot him a few glares and seemed to ignore him a few times, but once his situation with Pitch was explained, Hiccup eased up a bit with his hostility towards the lad, but only just a tad bit. After talking with them for a bit about the enlarged toys and what could have caused it, they finally went to bed, falling asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillows.

JJ was up with the sun the next morning, eager to see his dad again, and the Sandy’s and his toys. He didn’t think they would get to the bottom of the mystery that day, but at least they’d get a start. His thoughts turned to another person, his mother, known by her Cedar Grove alias Rose. It took everything he had not to freak her out by calling her mom right then and there, and he knew it was hard on his dad not to pull her into his arms and give her a great big kiss. Maybe they could also find out from the Sandy’s if they did have another stash of Tooth Fairy’s feathers.

JJ did chuckle softly as he flipped through the A Faraway Land on the coffee table, her alias was perfect, she was Sleeping Beauty after all. He sipped on his coffee as he thought back to what they had told him about finding her, and thought it a bit odd that Gothel was nowhere to be found, either in the files of the people who were present in the town, or anywhere near the cave beneath the town. So, where was she? Was she back on the other world? Why didn’t she come here, but Rapunzel did? He sipped his coffee again, maybe that had been included in the deal between Mavis and Jack. He flipped to Ever After and reread it, and found what he was looking for. Jack had suggested that the best deal would include getting his family back, and that Mavis had said that she would do her best. JJ wondered if her best meant bringing Rapunzel, though under a sleeping spell, to Cedar Grove and leaving Gothel back on their homeworld. It made sense since Pitch had already taken JJ to Earth.

JJ let out a sigh as he went to the story of Rapunzel and paused at a picture of his parents in an embrace, glowing with joy. He let a soft smile appear on his face; years of loneliness finally gone, and he knew how that felt too. He let out a sigh before finishing up his coffee and closing the book, being their son meant he had to be lonely for a time as well. He got up and set his mug in the sink before heading back through the living room to grab his jacket. He paused as he glanced back at the book, there was a piece of paper sticking out from the back. Curious, he walked over and opened the book to where the paper laid, and found four sheets of paper. His eyes widened as he quickly read through them, these were four new fairy tales! Was one his and MK’s story? He kept going back to one in particular, called Fairer-than-a-Fairy, was this the one? He jumped when a clock chimed six o’clock. He quickly got up and dashed out the door, making his way quickly towards Overland’s Antiques and Oddities.

When JJ arrived, Jack was already opening shop with Rose opening up her art studio next door. The toys and the Sandy’s hadn’t arrived yet, so Jack showed JJ around the store.

“Wow, this is really great, Dad. Why did you decide to open up an antique store?”

Jack shrugged, “You want my real reason, or the one Mavis gave me?”

“How about both?”

“OK, well, the reason Mavis gave me for starting this up is because Jackson Overland had an interest in history.” JJ grinned. “But the real reason? It was so I could keep an eye on the artifacts from our past, and that Mavis didn’t destroy them.”

“Well, both are pretty good reasons.”

“Why thank you. Now, why do you think the toys got bigger? Especially Slinky since he didn’t get bigger until you brought him back here the second time?”

“Well, there’s obviously magic involved . . .”

“Obviously.”

“But, I don’t know, maybe it had to do with the fact that I cared for them a lot?”

Jack rubbed his chin, “Well, that is a possibility. Anything else?”

“No, I’d rather get more information before coming to any conclusions.”

Jack grinned, “Good idea. As long as they get here on time. I’d have thought they would have gotten here by now.”

JJ ran his fingers through his hair, “Yeah, I mean, I know they’d want to wait and give us some time together, but it’s been, what, a half hour already?”

“Unless Woody and Jessie needed to check on a few things at the sheriff’s office. But it still shouldn’t take that long.”

JJ shrugged, “Unless they wanted us to have lots of time together.”

Jack grinned, “Which I have no problem with. But, what would you like to talk about?”

JJ chuckled nervously, “See, that’s the thing, I’ve been waiting all my life for this moment, and I’ve played through every scenario in my head of what could happen, what I would say, what I would do, what you would say and do, but . . . I don’t know, I really don’t want to talk, I just, I just want to savor the moment. I mean, I would like to have mom here too, but, seeing as how that’s not possible at the moment, spending time with just you will be great.”

Jack smiled, “Know the feeling, but, still, standing around not doing or saying anything is liable to drive me nuts.”

JJ laughed, “OK, Dad, then we’ll talk.”

“Great! But, what about?” JJ smiled, he had the answer, and basically gave a rundown of his life with the Davises, meetin MK and falling in love, graduating, the works, up until the fire. He and Jack continued to talk until the toys and the Sandy’s finally arrived, yet JJ couldn’t help but notice the tears forming in Jack’s eyes. He wondered if there was tears forming in his own eyes, tears of relief, that they were finally together, tears of sorrow, that they had missed so much, and tears of love, the one thing that had kept hope alive.

When the Sandy’s arrived, they were hugging JJ and Jack, congratulating them on finding each other. JJ explained what he had found out thus far about his powers, and the Sandy’s revealed that they had one last spot to check for Tooth’s feathers before having to wait until the Tooth Fairy lost another feather, or two, hopefully.

“Um, it could be another couple of months,” stated Sandy somewhat nervously. The Sandman nodded sadly.

Jack shrugged, sighing, “Oh well, guess we’ll have to have the best Christmas and Thanksgiving next year.”

“Better late than never, right?”

Jack smiled, “Right.”

“JJ!”

“Ooph!” JJ found himself wrapped in a tight bear hug with a cowgirl. “Hi Jess! Woody! Buzz! Bo Peep! Hi everyone”

“Oh wait, so you greet them by their names, but not us?”

JJ chuckled, “Hi Mr. Potato Head, Mrs. Potato Head, Rex, Hamm . . .”

“Alright, alright, we get the idea, you don’t need to go through the whole grocery list,” interrupted Slinky.

“Hey, I am not a grocery item!”

“Well you are a potato, I’m the ham, and Slinky’s a hot dog.”

“Wait, wait, what does that make me?” asked Rex.

“You’re the Happy Meal toy,” quipped Hamm.

“What?”

Jack burst out laughing, “Your toys have got the best sense of humor!”

JJ chuckled, “How else do you think we were able to keep Pitch away for as long as we did?”

“Um, speaking of . . .”

“What?”

“Uh, you guys might want to come see this,” stated Woody as he turned to walk out the door. They glanced at each other in worry before following the toys out of the store.

“Are we heading to the city limits?” asked Jack as they turned down a street.

Woody nodded, “Yup.”

“OK, well, that might be a while. So, do you guys know how you became bigger?”

“Nope,” quipped Jessie.

“We went over it with the Sandy’s before you guys got back, but we really didn’t come up with anything,” replied Woody.

“The only thing we can reckon is because JJ loved them a lot, that they became life-sized . . . for some of them,” remarked Sandy.

“Have you ever heard of the story The Velveteen Rabbit?” asked Bo. They nodded. “Well, we figure it’s something similar to that, and that’s all we’ve been able to figure.”

“When did you become bigger?”

“Not long after being here in Cedar Grove. Bo, Jessie, Bullseye and I got big a few hours after arriving.”

“The rest of us was while you were eating dinner,” noted Buzz. “Maybe because we came in with JJ, that it wasn’t as long for us as it had been for Woody, Jessie, Bo, and Bullseye.”

JJ nodded, “That is a possibility.”

“OK, we’re here. What did you want to show us?” asked Sandy.

“Wait a sec, you’ll see.” A second it was, for not long after Woody spoke, the shadows moved. JJ gasped and backed up a few steps while Jack stepped in between JJ and the city line. Jack gritted his teeth as cold laughter reached their ears.

“Long time no see, Jack.” 

[greatbigfour]

16. An Odd Homecoming

JJ eventually told Jamie and Jack what happened the night he disappeared from the fire. And Jack finally told JJ about Rapunzel’s situation, after several attempts and deep breaths. JJ took it all in a stunned silence as MK and Jamie added a few details. Not another word was said until they had stopped for lunch, nearly a few hours away from Cedar Grove.

“So, you’re saying Justin’s telling the truth?” JJ asked.

Jack nodded, “He has no reason to lie.”

“But, I think you’ve finally got him thinking that it wasn’t you he saw,” remarked MK.

“Yeah, that’s what’s scary, because if it wasn’t Dad he saw, then who was it? And how could he look so much like Dad?”

Jack shrugged, “I don’t know, the only thing that could be similar to this is a nightmare.”

“What? Like a waking nightmare?” JJ winced. “Sorry, dear.”

JJ smiled sadly, “It’s OK, it would have been worse if the Sandy’s hadn’t gotten me out of there when they did.”

“Um, I don’t, I don’t want you to relive any horrible memories, but, besides getting back at me, why did Pitch take you? Didn’t Gothel want to keep you to find out if you were her key to eternal youth?”

“Yeah, that’s the thing, my powers weren’t working fast enough for her, so she let Pitch take me. He, he was going to turn me into his darkling prince.” Jack uttered a shaky gasp and glanced down. “Dad, listen, it wasn’t your fault . . .”

“It is my fault that he hates me, and that could have fueled some of his treatment of you. I mean, come on, Rapunzel and I were given power by the sun and the moon for crying out loud, his worst enemies. I mean, yes, this has just been a series of, of . . .”

MK sighed, “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but, I think you mean a series of unfortunate events.”

Jamie snickered, “Wow, Mom, referencing a series isn’t all that bad.”

Jack smirked, “Yeah, but, it’s the best term to use for this, as that is what this all is, a series of unfortunate events. Sometimes it seems like it has been orchestrated by one person with an agenda, sometimes, it’s just a bunch of freak accidents with no one to blame it on. But I do believe that his treatment of you could have been fueled by his hate of me in particular, and for that I am sorry. I am also sorry for not being more diligent, I should have known that Gothel and Pitch would have been back at the first chance they had, but, I was so happy at being able to be with your mom and you that, that I practically let them in myself.”

“Well, if it helps, I don’t blame you for anything, but, if you’re going to just beat yourself up over it every single time, then, I forgive you. And, right now, we are so close to being back together again, we just to get Mom’s memories back, and we’re complete. I have been waiting for this moment my whole life, I am not going to let your regrets ruin it for me, alright?”

“What? You mean you can’t let your old man pour out his sob story? OK, that sounded weird.”

JJ began to laugh, “Oh boy, did it ever!”

“Hey! I want no flak from you, young man! Oh no, I’m starting to sound like a grandpa!”

Jamie snickered, “Well, technically you are. And having both Jack Frost and Hiccup Haddock as my grandpas is the coolest thing ever!”

“Glad you think so, squirt. Oh, and speaking of . . . wonder how Hiccup’s going to take meeting you.”

JJ chuckled nervously, “Uh, what do you mean?”  

“Well, you kind of did break his little girl’s heart, so, you know, prepare for the meeting of the in-laws.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll protect you,” smiled MK.

JJ chuckled, “I don’t think I need protecting from your dad, MK, in fact, I probably deserve every single bit of reprimand he sends my way.”

“Andy . . .”

He shook his head, “No, I’ll take it, I did break your heart after all.”

“Not, not really, I mean, it really hurt a lot thinking that you were dead, but, you really didn’t technically break my heart. You never saw another girl in Sleepy Hollow, did you?”

JJ shook his head, “How could I? You were the only one for me.”

“See? My heart would have been only broken had you fallen in love with another woman.”

“Yeah, but, your dad’s not exactly going to think that way,” pointed out Jack.

“He’s got a point there, MK. But like I said, I deserve it, I did leave you two stranded in Burgess without a single word to my whereabouts, making everyone think I was dead.”

“But, you had good reason. I mean, it worked, didn’t it? Pitch didn’t come looking for us, he’s still looking for you, isn’t he?”

“Last the toys checked, yeah,” nodded JJ.

Jack rose from his chair with a stretch, “Well, all the more reason to get back to Cedar Grove pronto. Let’s go.”

“Right,” the others agreed and followed him out to the car. MK took the final leg of the journey, getting them back into Cedar Grove around seven.

“Let’s treat Dad to a meal at Goodie Tree!” exclaimed Jamie.

MK glanced at Jack, “What do you think?”

“I think that you’ll be letting me take the tab, aren’t you?”

MK grinned, “Goodie Tree it is!”

JJ and Jamie laughed as Jack groaned, “How did I guess.”

“Well, it certainly doesn’t help that you are the richest man in town,” winked MK.

Jack chuckled, “That is true. Alright, Goodie Tree it is.”

Jamie whooped, “Yes!” MK slowed down the car as they entered Cedar Grove so that JJ could get a look at the town. They drove through a couple of times, allowing Jamie, Jack and MK to give JJ quite the tour of the place. When it came to Jack’s shop and the art studio next door, Jack was more than willing to talk JJ’s ear off about his shop, but he basically clammed up when it came to the art studio. Especially when they saw someone coming out of it.

“Rose?” called out MK. She glanced up sharply, a hint of fear in her eyes.

“Oh, um, MK, right?”

“Yeah, that’s me. You remember Jack and Jamie?”

“Oh, y-yes, yes, I do. Hello again.”

“Hi!” smiled Jamie as he waved. Jack just smiled at her and nodded cordially.

“Nice to see you. Um, who’s that?”

“Oh, hi, um, I’m JJ.” Rose glanced at him strangely.

“Why, why does that name seem so familiar?” Jack let out a soft gasp.

“Well, it’s a pretty common nickname . . .”

“No, I’ve, I’ve heard it before.”

“Why don’t you come with us? We’re heading to Goodie Tree for dinner before heading home. Maybe we can figure it out there,” suggested MK.

“That, that would be lovely, but, but I can’t.”

“Why not?” asked JJ.

“Jack’s paying for it!”

“Oh, really? Well, I guess I can go then, see, I’m not very rich. Oh, thank you.” Jack had gotten out of the car and opened the door for her. He closed it and got in on the other side, Jamie sitting in the middle.

“If you want, I can pay for some of your expenses. I have more money than I know what to do with it.”

“Oh, why thank you, that’s very kind of you, but I wouldn’t want to impose . . .”

“It’s no problem whatsoever. I seriously have more than I need, I want to help you.”

“Oh, well, thank you, I appreciate that a lot!”

Jack smiled, “You are most welcome.”

“Alright, we’re here. Let’s see if we can break Jack’s bank account,” smirked MK.

“Hey!” The others laughed as they got out of the car. Jack leaned in and whispered to JJ, “You picked very well.” He winked at JJ as he blushed a bit.

“Well, you didn’t do so bad yourself, with mom.”

“Well yeah, you wouldn’t be here if I didn’t do so well.” JJ chuckled as they found a table and ordered. They sat and chatted, eventually getting Rose to warm up to them and join in the conversation as they ate. They were just about finished when they were started by a shout.

“Yeehaw, Andy’s back! I mean, JJ’s back!”

JJ got up in shock, “Jessie? Woody? Bo Peep? You’re here? Oh, right, you were, but, how . . .”

“Wait, you know Sheriff Woody, Deputy Jessie, and Bo Peep?” asked Jamie.

JJ glanced at him, “Well, yeah. Um, Jamie, are they in A Faraway Land?”

“Well, now that you mention it, no, they’re not,” Jamie slowly stated.

JAck quickly laid down a few bills, “Well, it’s been a lot of fun. I’ll see you first thing in the morning, right, JJ?”

JJ blinked in surprise, “Uh, yeah, I guess. But, why are you leaving so soon?”

“Well, I’m getting tired, and I figured I’d walk Miss Rose home.”

“Oh please, you don’t need to . . .”

“I’d be honored,” smiled Jack with a bow.

“Well, it would be nice. Thank you,” she smiled.

“It’s my pleasure,” he replied, giving her his arm. She took it, and they left the restaurant.

“OK, so, where’s Buzz and the others?” asked Jessie.

“And Slinky, I know your dad took him,” pointed out Woody.

“Oh, they’re out in the car,” replied JJ as he walked towards the door.

“Wait, were they your toys too?” asked MK.

“Your toys?” exclaimed Jamie when Woody, Jessie and Bo nodded.

“Well of course they were JJ’s toys. You couldn’t find them in the book, could you?” came Mr. Potato Head’s voice. JJ, MK, Jamie, and Ella stood there, staring in shock as a life-sized Buzz Lightyear walked in the door, the backpack in his hands with the other toys. They all had grown a bit too, but not as much as Buzz.

“Buzz!” exclaimed Jessie as she rushed to him and gave him a big hug.

“What? How? How did you get so big, but none of the others?” They all shrugged.

“We really don’t know, we climbed out of the backpack to get some air . . .”

“More like Rex did,” grumbled Mr. Potato Head.

“What? I couldn’t breathe!”

“The next thing we know, we all got a little bigger.” “Maybe the Sandy’s might be able to tell us something more,” suggested MK.

“Yeah, but, they’ve already closed up shop.” Everyone glanced at Ella. “They came in for a quick bite a couple of hours ago, wanted to head out to see if they had another secret stash of Tooth Fairy feathers. They said that they will be back tomorrow at the regular hours”

JJ sighed, “Alright, guess I’ll have to check in on them tomorrow after talking with Dad.”

“Yeah, but, where are they going to stay? We can’t take them with us to Mom and Dad’s, there won’t be enough room.”

“They can stay with us! Woody, Bo, and I have got plenty of room!”

“Are, are you sure?”

Woody nodded, “Sure, it’ll be great to have the whole gang back together again! I’d extend the offer to you too, JJ, but, I think you’d want to spend some time with your family.”

JJ smiled, “That’s right, I do. Thanks Woody.”

“Anything for my old partner.” Woody turned to the other toys, “Well, shall we be off? I think everyone’s had a long day.”

“Yeah, no kidding. Do you have any idea what it’s like having to be in a backpack with the likes of him for days?” Mr. Potato Head pointed to Rex.

“Potato Head!” Woody and Buzz berated him.

“What? It’s true!”

“Let’s just get going. We’ll meet you at your Dad’s place tomorrow, JJ.”

“Right, see you tomorrow!” JJ waved to his toys. JJ let out a breath as he turned to MK and Jamie, “Our turn now?”

MK smiled, “Yeah, let’s go home.”

[greatbigfour]

15. His Greatest Fear

“So, Andy, are you ever going to tell her about your real family? About us?”

Andy sighed, “I don’t know Buzz, I don’t think she’s ready to hear it. The kid might find out long before she does.”

“Well, considering that the kid is still cooking, I think you’ve got some time to at least get her prepared. You know, dropping hints and whatnot.”

Andy sighed as he pulled out A Faraway Land from a backpack under his bed, “Yeah, I guess I should. I mean, if Pitch finds us . . . yeah, I should. Maybe I’ll start with the book, let her read it. Get her started thinking about it, at least, considering the possibility that this book is a history.”

“A good idea. Wouldn’t it be funny, though, if she is the Mary Katherine from the book?”

Andy laughed, “The chances of that are slim to none. Unless . . . unless Manny made sure we met! I mean, she’s said she was an orphan just like me. What if? OK, yes, tonight, I’m going to let her read the book. I don’t want to spring anything on her suddenly, but if her parents are in fact Hiccup and Merida . . .”

“Then she’s the one to break the spell!”

“And Dad might have needed her name as a trigger to get his memories back! Oh man, wouldn’t that be awesome? I bring my wife into town, Dad hears her name, and he remembers! That would be great! But, we don’t know where the town is, the Sandy’s never told us.”

“Well, let’s work on getting MK to understand the truth of the book, and if she still has that blanket, we know it’s her,” Buzz stated as he pointed at the picture of the baby MK. “And if she is the MK needed to break the spell, then we’ll contact the Sandy’s and ask them for the location of Cedar Grove.”

Andy nodded, “A good idea. Oh man, I’ve never been so anxious for her to come home! This will be the longest shopping trip she’ll ever take.”

Buzz chuckled as Andy stuffed the book back into the backpack, “Well, I just hope she takes the news well. I really think you should have told her a lot sooner, though.”

“Yeah, because now you might not be able to,” blurted Mr. Potato Head as he and the others entered the room.

“There’s been reports of nightmares all over the neighborhood!” blurted Rex.

“What? Pitch, Pitch is here? Now?” Andy let out a yelp as he grabbed the backpack and jumped back from the bed. A shadowy hand slipped back under the bed before a large shadow crawled out and grew into a dark man that towered over Andy.

Buzz jumped to the floor and stood in front of Andy protectively, “Andy, get out!”

Pitch laughed cruelly, “Did you think you could hide from me for long, JJ?” His cruel yellow eyes locked on Andy’s frightened blue ones.

“Get Andy out of here!” ordered Buzz as he began firing his lazer at the Nightmares crawling out from under the bed.

“Andy, run!” shouted Mrs. Potato Head as Rex bit into a Nightmare and Hamm headbutted another. Andy finally snapped out of it and dashed out of the room, his arms wrapped around the backpack. The other toys followed him out of the room while Buzz blasted Nightmare after Nightmare. Pitch’s laugh echoed around them before stepping out of the shadows in front of them in the living room.

“You’re still afraid, JJ, afraid that you’ll never find your parents again. Afraid that they won’t accept you now that you’re all grown up.”

“Stop it, stop it!”

“Andy, don’t listen to him!” shouted Rex.

“And now you’re afraid, afraid of what I could do to your little family, that I would do the same thing to them that I did to you. And I will do the same thing to them if you refuse to become my darkling prince.”

“No! You leave them alone!” At that moment, lightbulbs shattered and an electrical fire broke out. Andy shot a glare at Pitch as thoughts of his family filled his head. “You will not touch them!” The electricity in the air seemed to build up and a few bolts zapped Pitch.

Pitch laughed, “Do you really think that will stop me? Ah!” A stream of golden sand wrapped itself around Pitch’s arm like a whip and pulled him away.

“Jackson Junior! Get out here now!” ordered a sharp voice. Andy let out a breath of relief as he and the toys bolted out of the house.

“Oh, thank heavens you’ve come!” exclaimed Rex as he rushed towards the witch.

“Well of course we came! As soon as you told us what was happening, we got here as quickly as we could! But Sandy can’t handle Pitch all by himself, so we’re going to have to get you out of here. Where’s your wife and unborn baby?”

“They, they’re out.”

“Oh good, well then . . .”

“Sandy, I need to go now.”

“What about . . .?”

Andy sighed, “It will be better this way. If I can keep Pitch’s attention on me, they’ll be safe.”

“What? But what about . . .” began Rex.

Andy shook his head, “I won’t be able to protect them. I couldn’t even protect myself. It’ll be better this way.”

“But JJ! MK loves you, she’ll be heartbroken!” exclaimed Mrs. Potato Head as Andy walked away.

“Don’t you think I’m already heartbroken at having to leave? I love her too, I wanted to have this perfect life with her and our baby. But if Pitch . . . with Pitch . . . I don’t want to put them through what Mom and I went through, I . . . I don’t want to go through what Dad went through.”

“But you’re forcing it on yourself now!” blurted Mr. Potato Head.

“Yes, I am, but since I am forcing it, I know that they’ll be safe.” He sighed as he glanced down at the backpack he still clutched, “That’s something Dad didn’t get. Please.”

Sandy sighed, “Oh, alright, let’s get going.”

“Going so soon? But I’m just getting warmed up!” Pitch chuckled as he emerged from the shadows. He shot a stream of black sand at Andy so fast that Andy didn’t have time to react, he could only watch in fear as the sand came straight for him.

“JJ!” Andy closed his eyes, and thought of those he loved. No, he couldn’t give in, not now, not when so many people needed him to stay alive, to stay who he is. He opened his eyes, just in time to see little balls of light get between him and the black sand. Everyone stared at him in shock, even Pitch.

“So now you’re getting powers,” growled Pitch.

“Better late than never,” retorted Andy.

Sandy stepped between them, “JJ, get the toys and get out of here! Sandy and I will cover you!”

“Thank you,” whispered Andy as he placed the backpack on the ground. The toys piled in, Buzz being the last one.

“Buzz Lightyear, you take care of JJ, you hear!”

“Yes ma’am!” Buzz saluted her before ducking into the backpack so Andy could zip it up. The Sandy’s engaged Pitch Black, allowing their protege ample time to get away. Andy took one last, loving look at the now burning house that was being turned into a loving home. He hoped MK would be alright, and that he would be able to explain it all to her one day.

He made the last bus out of the city that evening and set his sights on Sleepy Hollow. The strange thing about Andy was, though he was scared of the king of scary, he still enjoyed a good ghost story. Sleepy Hollow had always been the place he had wanted to see, and now he was getting his chance. He let out a sigh, unfortunately, it was at the cost of separating himself from his loved ones. He glanced up at the moon, glowing so brightly.

“Keep an on them, please, Manny. I need to know that they’re safe.” He finally laid down his head and closed his teary eyes, hoping, praying, that he would be able to see his family again.