Toothiana

I was devastated when Sandy had been killed last week. But compared to losing Pitch... my heart was broken. It only broke more when the Guardians placed candles in the centre of the Guardian carving. I closed my eyes, as North and Bunnymund took my hands. The bells continued to chime, deafening me, as my head spun. Finally, they stopped, leaving behind an excruciating silence. I opened my eyes, pulling my hands from theirs and ran from the room.

I threw open the doors, stepping out into the cold night, staring up at Manny. "Why? Was this his fate? Is this what you destined for him?" I asked, furiously. "Is this what you wanted?"

Manny remained silent. I shook my head, glaring at him. "How could you let him die? He was our family. Does that mean nothing to you?"

"Tooth," Jack sighed, walking over to me. I dropped my head, looking over at him, reluctantly. "It isn't Manny's fault. He couldn't help anymore than we could. You know that."

I nodded, looking back up at the moon, "I know. I just... I can't believe he's gone." I sighed, sinking into the snow. "He should've been one of us. I know he said he never wanted to but he did. He just thought he was useless as a guardian. He didn't know how his power could help the children." I explained, quietly.

"Nor did I," He muttered, "But you guys helped me see my potential."

"I just wish that..." I closed my eyes, dropping my head. "I wish he was here." I whimpered.

"I'm sorry, Tooth." He sighed, sympathetically. I opened my eyes, slowly, looking down at the snow tooth, jack had created. I stared at it, my usually eager attitude diminishing. Not even my greatest passion could help me at that moment. I moved my eyes from the tooth, feeling my eyes prick again.

I pushed myself up and walked back into the workshop, silently. I sat on the couch, drawing my knees to my chest and I clutched Pitch's pendant, which still hung around my neck.

"Not even a flicker of a smile," I heard Jack mutter, his voice wavering slightly.

"This will take time, mate." Bunnymund replied, quietly. "You didn't see how they were together back in the day. The Sheila is gonna spit the dummy for a while."

"English, Bunny," Jack scoffed, tiredly.

"She's going to be upset for a while, Jack." North translated, making me close my eyes, sadly. "The only thing we can do is be there for her."

"Isn't there anything we can do? What about Manny?" He asked, desperately. "I hate seeing her like this."

"There's nothing Manny can do." Bunny added, softly.

Of course there wasn't. Pitch was gone, the only thing that could possibly bring him back was fear and a lot of it. Manny fought that, we fought that. Pitch was that. Ironically, the only one who could bring Pitch back was Pitch. He was lost in the shadows.

I dropped my eyes to the pendant, seeking its comfort as I opened it. She is the light to save you from the shadows. But no amount of light could fully destroy darkness. It hid in corners, lurked beneath beds and-

Beds. The children. They brought Sandy back, maybe they could bring back Pitch. But that would require bringing their deepest fears to the surface. I couldn't do that. Could I? Pitch would do it for me in a heartbeat, I knew that, but I was a Guardian. I protected the children from fear, I didn't deliver it to them. I wouldn't even know where to start.

Pitch was fear, without him we Guardians serve no purpose. If I were to bring him back, by breaking the rules slightly, it wouldn't be that bad, would it? How hard could it be? All I needed was the shadows…

Keeping my plans to myself, I rose to my feet and made my way over to the others, "I think I'm going to head back to the Palace. Do you think I could borrow a snow globe, North?" I asked, emotion still thick in my voice as I met his warm blue eyes.

"Are you sure you wish to be alone? You can stay as long-" he began, concerned as he handed me the globe.

"I think I'd like to be with my fairies. I'm sure they are reacting just as badly as I have and we still have a job to do." I pointed out, hugging the snow globe to my chest as I said goodbye and hurried away. They wouldn't accept my idea to save Pitch. But he'd saved me and it was only right I returned the favour.

"Pitch's lair." I whispered, releasing the globe and watched the swirls shift from pink to black in mere seconds. There was no turning back.