"Creating your sphere of time. You really must be desperate to kill me." Pitch snapped and two nightmares appeared by his side. They both charged at Raynerof.

Raynerof effortlessly took down each mare with one hit. His eyes landed on Pitch again.

Pitch glared at Raynerof. "You can lock out as many nightmares as you want, but I can take you down with as many nightmares as I want." He snapped, and multiple nightmares appeared behind him.

Raynerof gripped his scythe with both hands. Pitch smiled. He looked at a few mares on his side and he jerked his head to Raynerof. All at once, the mares charged at Raynerof. Raynerof calmly held his scythe in front of him. He closed his eyes, and his scythe began to glow blue. As the mares came closer, Raynerof jumped up in, spiraling. His scythe broke into pieces and flew to the mares. As it touched the mares, small, blue-flamed clocks appeared over the mares heads.

Raynerof went past the mares, and he headed towards Pitch. He tried to punch, but Pitch was faster and blocked with his scythe.

Pitch grinned. "Where is your scythe?"

"I'm using it for something." Raynerof ducked and went around Pitch elbowing his back. He jumped away from Pitch and landed on a building. He turned around and jumped back at Pitch, kicking him in the face and taking Pitch's scythe. He landed on another building and used that building to land on Pitch's chest, kicking him back towards the mares. Pitch hit his back against the mares, and the mares exploded. Raynerof's own scythe spawned back into his own hand. He sighed to himself and looked down at where Raven and Dark Jack fell.

Raynerof's eyes widened as he saw Cupid, Damian, and Raven were unconscious. "Cupid, why did you--" Pitch's scythe vanished from his hand.

Pitch laughed as he chocked Raynerof with his scythe. "You didn't think I would be finished that easily, did you?"

Raynerof tried to elbow Pitch, but Pitch easily avoided as his tries.

Pitch smirked. "Did your little friend use her bursting light to escape Raven?"

Raynerof stomped on Pitch's foot. He grabbed Pitch's scythe away from his neck with one hand, and flipped Pitch over in front of him using Pitch's scythe. Pitch landed on his back. Raynerof put down his own scythe and grabbed Pitch's shoulder, pulling Pitch's center up to his knee. Pitch grunted as he staggered back and tried to get control of his balance. Raynerof rapidly did a back flip, stepping on Pitch's face and pushing them both back.

Once Pitch was able to control his balance, he snarled. "Quit toying with me and fight me!" His scythe spawned in his hand. "Are you trying to kill me or not!?"

"I'm not!"

Pitch's eyes narrowed at Raynerof. He noticed the small lack of control in Raynerof's eyes. He noticed a drop of blood trickling down Raynerof's cheek. In less than a second, he noticed a thin cut on Raynerof's face. Pitch blinked as a light chuckle escaped him. "You went back in time."

Raynerof's eyes shifted. He took a deep breath and pulled his scythe to his side.

"You went back in time. I cut you, and you were probably about to die. So you came back."

Raynerof used his scythe to push him forward to execute a powerful kick. As Pitch was about to block his kick, Raynerof swiftly and gracefully moved down to the floor and punched Pitch's rib. Raynerof stepped to the side and moved away from Pitch's punch. He grabbed Pitch's fist, dropping his scythe, and elbowed Pitch's nose.

Pitch's eyes widened as Raynerof pulled Pitch's arm more forward and kneed his center. Raynerof quickly placed his foot on Pitch's shoulder and kicked him back.

Pitch fell on his rear and looked up at Raynerof. He stood up and smirked. "You knew what I was going to do. But you didn't know that before traveling back in time. I cut your cheek, and now your hand is bruised."

Raynerof kept his eyes on Pitch, while grabbing his scythe.

Pitch felt his breath getting heavy, but he couldn't show it. Not now in front of this boy. A small grin appeared on his face. "You can't keep going back in time forever!" He shook his head. "No, that's just not right, is it?" He noticed a cut on Raynerof's other hand. "Aside from traveling through time taking its toll on you, there's a balance. A balance you must follow. Going back in time breaks that balance."

Raynerof hit the base of his scythe against the floor. He was instantly behind Pitch and kicked him forward. He glared down at Pitch. "Everyone has a balance to follow. But every balance has a set of rules. Those are the rules I follow. Unlike you who breaks every rule of the balance of fear they can."

Pitch moved back and smirked. "You only follow those rules because of your energy collapsing on you if you travel back too much. I've heard of your power." Pitch instantly appeared behind Raynerof. Raynerof blocked his attack with his scythe. Pitch looked down at Raynerof's scythe. "Careful who that touches."

Raynerof pushed Pitch back. Pitch disappeared in the shadow of the water tower behind him. Rayner's as widened as he barely managed to block Pitch's next attack. Pitch disappeared back in the shadows did the same attacking pattern. His heart raced as he barely managed to block the next, sudden attacks Pitch executed while moving through shadows.

Pitch's laugh echoed. "What's wrong Raynerof? Are you just getting slower in your own sphere, or are you guessing my next few attacks before going back time?"

"I don't want to hurt you!" Raynerof's eyes shifted from one shadow to another.

Pitch laughed again. "Is that why you aren't in your twenty-eight-year-old form? I've heard that's when you were physically strongest." Pitch's scythe clashed with Raynerof's. "And that eighteen is when you are fastest."

"That is almost precisely why." Raynerof managed to push Pitch back by a hair. He stepped to the side to avoid Pitch's scythe. He ran to the edge of the building and jumped onto the closest roof.

"You can't run from me."

Raynerof gasped and managed to block Pitch's attack. He struggled to hold Pitch back, but he moved back and to the side, causing Pitch to fall forward. He lightly touched Pitch's shoulder, and blue-flamed hourglass appeared over Pitch's head.  He smirked and flipped back, kicking Pitch's chin up. He landed on the edge and used his scythe to push him forward. Pitch's eyes slowly widened as he saw Raynerof flying towards him.

Raynerof quickly kicked Pitch's foot into the other. Pitch slowly moved into the air, beginning to fall to the ground, and Raynerof grabbed his ankle. He spun Pitch around a few times and threw him into the air. He jumped up, and he kicked Pitch's back down onto the roof of the building. He jumped back and grabbed Pitch's scythe. He tossed it away as Pitch slowly began to stand up.

Raynerof smirked. "Have you ever thought it might be you who moves slow? I'm as fast as any eighteen-year-old. As fast as Jack. As fast as anyone really. But I'm a lot smarter."

Pitch's eyes slowly widened as the wind began to pick up Raynerof's hair.

"I won't kill you, but I'm know that you'll try to kill me." There's no way around it. I have to fight him. He tossed his scythe into a park not too far from the building.

Raynerof suddenly appeared in front of Pitch, and punched his face. He appeared behind Pitch and kicked him down. He appeared to the side of Pitch and kneed his rib. He rapidly continued to hit Pitch throughout his body.

Pitch felt the hourglass above him running out of time, for his eyes began to move fast enough see Raynerof's attack before the attack was executed. He saw hand-fulls of nightmares gathering around in the sphere to watch their master fall. He felt his own fear building inside him. Raynerof suddenly appeared in front of Pitch, grabbed him and tossed him off the building.

Raynerof began taking deep breaths. He paused and looked at all the nightmares around him. He saw a few back away the moment his eyes fell on them. He took a deep breath and walked to the edge of the building, looking for the fallen Pitch. Pitch wasn't there. His eyes widened.

Something hit the back of Raynerof's head, and he fell forward.

Pitch laughed and held his scythe against Raynerof's neck. "I'm a hard man to kill. Do you know who I am?" He chuckled.

Raynerof glared back at Pitch, noticing the hourglass that slowed him down was gone. The sound of thunder rapidly and loudly flew through the air. His eyes widened, and his eyes began to shift. "It can't be..." he quietly said under his breath, almost like a whisper.

Pitch smirked. "Hear that?" Raynerof grunted as Pitch pressed his scythe onto Raynerof's neck. "There's nowhere for you to go now, Raynerof. She's angry." Pitch laughed loudly and raised his scythe above his head. "Good bye, Raynerof Time!"

Lightning struck between the two. Smoke separated and blinded them. Pitch coughed and tried to look around in the smoke. His eyes widened as he panicked. He moved to the side from a swift and powerful punch to his face. Before he could realize what was happening, he was attacked from every direction.

Raynerof quickly moved, using the smoke to his advantage and continuing to attack. But Pitch was smarter this time. He grabbed Raynerof's arm and threw him against another building. He rapidly ran to Raynerof and punched Raynerof's center. Raynerof let out a loud grunt.

Pitch chuckled. "That trick won't work anymore." He kicked the boy away and watched the boy's body fall to the ground in a park. He quickly moved to attack, but he slammed his scythe into the ground next to Raynerof's head.

Raynerof rapidly used Pitch's miscoordination to his advantage. He grabbed Pitch's scythe and pushed his weight onto his arms and back. He pushed all of his weight forward, forcing his feet to slam on Pitch's chest. Pitch fell back, and Raynerof rapidly grabbed his scythe. He swiftly and rapidly slammed the blade of his scythe into the ground. He ran around Pitch in a large circle, marking a deeply cut circle in the ground with a light of blue trailing behind the blade. Pitch's eyes widened as Raynerof completed the circle.

Pitch urged his foot forward, but it didn't move. He tried to curse, but he found he could not move his mouth in any way. He wasn't breathing either. He was frozen as if time had stopped, and he was entirely aware of what was going on.

Raynerof put his scythe down. He quickly moved behind Pitch and placed Pitch on his knees.  He grabbed Pitch's wrists and extended Pitch's arms. He moved Pitch's chin up to face forward. He grabbed his scythe and appeared in front of Pitch, several feet away from him.

Pitch tried to let out a cry or summon his fearlings as he stared at Raynerof.

Raynerof frown at Pitch. He paused as he saw tree branches and tree roots slither toward Pitch's ligaments. He felt the air in his lungs escape him as he watched the trees' extensions move. "I guess she's on my side," he whispered. His eyes fell back on Pitch. He gripped his scythe with both hands and faced Pitch. He charged at Pitch and could feel the fear in Pitch's core as he came closer to Pitch.

But as he moved closer, time seemed to slow down. Everything happened so fast but so slow. Smoke appeared with a small shake of the earth between Raynerof and Pitch. The thick brown clouds made Raynerof stop and skid. He gasped as the smoke moved away, and he saw a familiar frame of familiar person. He began to see beautiful, black hair that flowed like clouds. He then saw her beautiful, golden eyes looking into his grey eyes. He could hardly breath as he saw her face. His heart was racing so fast he didn't notice she was glaring at him.

Raynerof's scythe fell by his side. "Emily Jane Pitchiner." Her name escaped him as he took a weak step forward. "It's you."

Emily Jane took a deep breath as tears formed behind her eyes. "And it's you, Raynerof Time."

Raynerof was now standing less than a foot in front of her. He instantly grew taller than Emily Jane and had barely unnoticable side burns. He was twenty-eight now. The age he had first seen her. The age that reminded him of her. He looked into her eyes. "Something's bothering you. You're conflicted. I can tell."

"No, I am certain." Emily Jane's breath was unsteady. It was noticable how much she wanted to look away from Raynerof but couldn't.

"No. You want to be angry with me, but you've missed me." Raynerof's mouth couldn't decide whether to smile or frown. "You've been in so much pain."

Emily Jane took another deep breath. "I haven't missed you." Her tone was harsh. "I missed my father. And you were about to kill him." She glared at Raynerof. "You told me that no matter what happened you wouldn't do that. You promised."

Raynerof blinked. "Emily, I-I was keeping that promise."

"Was is the key word." Emily Jane swallowed hard. "You were about to break it."

"No, I wasn't. I was just going to freeze his body into a decade of sleep. He wouldn't hurt anyone and the Guardians wouldn't be after him and--"

"The Guardians? You're lying." Emily Jane stared aggressively. "You were holding your scythe. Anything that touches that dies. Anything IT touches dies. You planned to kill my father."

"No." Raynerof shook his head. "Believe."

Emily Jane blinked. She scanned every inch of Raynerof's face. Her harsh gaze began to wound Raynerof's heart.

Raynerof held Emily Jane's hand. "Believe in me."

Emily Jane stared into his eyes. Her heart raced, and her hand slowly moved up his shoulder to his cheek. "Raynerof..." She shook her head. "I'm sorry," she whispered and stepped back.

Raynerof's entire body froze as Emily Jane turned to her father. He lowered his head with every step she took, just like the day she left him. She removed all the tree branches and roots away from her father. She dragged Pitch out of the circle, and he inhaled, almost gasping.

"Emily," Pitch placed a hand on his daughter's cheek.

"Dad." She held her father's hand. "Are you okay?"

"Emily!"

Emily Jane turned to face Raynerof. He unpursed his lips and slowly raised his head to look into Emily Jane's eyes.

A weak smiled appeared on Raynerof's face. "Do you still love me?"

Emily Jane turned around, so Raynerof couldn't see her face. Not knowing her reaction, Raynerof saw her grab her father's hand a thick cloud appeared around them. The cloud carried them away into the dawn's sky. Raynerof's eyes shifted from the sky to the ground. His core was empty. There was no answer. There was no clarity. He stared down the empty park and streets.

Raynerof fell onto his knees. His breathing became heavy. He took a deep breath and began to breathe normally. He closed his eyes tightly and pursed his lips.

"Rayner!? Rayner!" He could hear the flapping of Cupid's wings.

"Raynerof!" He felt the soft touch of Jack's wind on his face.

 "Rayner." Cupid placed a hand on his shoulder. "Your forcefield fell. Are you...?"

There was a moment of silence. Raynerof continued to stare down the empty road. "She didn't answer me."

Bunnymund's eyes widened. "You mean Mother Nature?"

There was another beat of silence.

"Rayner..." Cupid crouched into Raynerof's gaze. "Everything's going to be fine."

Raynerof blinked and looked at Cupid. "Right. She's with her father. She'll be fine." He took a deep breath and stood up. "Let's go. We all have duties to tend to, and I have something to tell you all at the pole."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pitch slowly took Nightingale into his arms. He blinked and looked at Emily Jane. "You took her?"

Emily Jane nodded. "I knew the Guardians were after her. And I didn't want them to take her from you." She smiled at Pitch. "You're a great father. I didn't want her to miss you like I once did."

Pitch looked from Nightingale to Emily Jane. He gently smiled at her. "Thank you. But please forgive me." He genlty kissed Emily Jane's forehead. "I should never have left you alone."

Her eyes lowered. "I know it wasn't actually you that did. You weren't yourself at the time." She turned and faced the setting sun over her balcony.

"But now I am." Pitch stood beside Emily Jane, facing her. "Well in a sense," he chuckled. "You could always visit."

A small smiled appeared on Emily Jane's face. "I already do from time to time."

Pitch smiled and felt lighter. He looked at the setting sun. "You did miss him, didn't you?"

Emily Jane closed her eyes tightly and took a quiet breath. "No. How could I? He wanted to hurt you."

"That doesn't mean anything. I know that you still love him." Pitch smiled at Emily Jane. "I'm your father. I know these things."

Emily Jane's eyes shifted and she pursed her lips. 

Pitch took a deep breath. "I actually assume that you knew the Guardians were trying to take Nightingale because you were watching Raynerof. You didn't want me to fight him, so you took your sister." 

Emily Jane nodded. "You really do know me well." 

Pitch placed a hand on Emily Jane's cheek. "I'm your father. It's what I do."

Emily Jane flashed a smile at her father. "That's why even if you're the boogeyman, I will always protect you."

"Even if you're not happy?" Pitch frowned, and Emily Jane paused. He looked into his daughter's eyes. "I also know that you claimed a relationship with Father Sky to keep Raynerof safe from me." His eyes grew soft. "You didn't think I would use your child with him as a weapon did you?"

Emily Jane pursed her lips. "For a time I did, but when I realized you wouldn't it was too late. I had already let Raynerof go, and I couldn't find him."

Pitch smiled weakly. "I'll admit that when I found out of your relationship with him, I thought about using your child. They would be the most amazing weapon. But then I realized I couldn't. I couldn't do that to you. I couldn't pull myself to hurt you in that way."

Emily Jane's eyes slightly widened, and she could feel tears forming behind her eyes. "So this whole time..." She locked her gaze with her father's. "But I... He..."

"Emily," Pitch placed his hand on her shoulder, "be with him. If you truly love him, be with him. I will not stop you. I will not stop you from being happy." He smiled and kissed Emily Jane's cheek. "I love you." He wiped a tear from Emily Jane's cheek. "Please be happy."