The Moonlit Room was a special area befitted for showcasing spoils of war, or weapons of the utmost rarity. Of course, the Man in the Moon did not know the original purpose of it when he was a child, so when the need arose for a place to keep a cursed object he was quick to refurbish the room for that exact purpose.
In the center of the room was a pedestal that was decorated with gold and silver stars, lines adorning to make out the night sky. Surrounding the pedestal were six windows open to the light outside, adeptly calibrated so that the rays of light would reflect amongst the stars and focus solely on the area above the pedestal- there, hovering in silence, was what seemed like a smokey quartz crystal. Two inches in diameter and about as long as a foot, the crystal spun eerily as nothing in the room moved with it save the shadows in the crystal.
The shadows called to a stranger entering the room, giving false promises and whispers of darkness. In response, they outstretched a hand in the moonlight and it dimmed to a faint glow. The crystal stopped rotating, and a hand grasped it tight before darkness surrounded them. Once the shadows dispersed, the figure and the crystal were nowhere to be seen.
Nicholas St. North paced back and forth inside his workshop as he waited for the others to arrive. This was an emergency meeting- one that he was hoping to never have. None of the elves had ever seen him so stressed, but he reassured them with a laugh that it was only temporary. The Yeti, on the other hand, didn't believe him.
"Good that this isn't during Christmas," he commented to them. "Otherwise I wouldn't be able to- ah, Sandy!" He was overjoyed to see the smaller being as he flew in on a manta made of golden dream sand. The grains dispersed into the air, and the smaller man was just floating to the ground when the larger Russian pulled him into a bear hug. "Ha ha ha! It's been forever, old friend!"
Sandy accepted the hug, then gave a nod in agreement. It has been some time since the Guardians made a meeting. Though, he looked to North with a question- what was this meeting for? And so sudden? His mind jumped to many conclusions, forming pictures after pictures- A hand rested on his shoulder. "Reasons will be explained. Soon. Manny wants everyone present first."
Jack casually walks in from a nearby corridor and started to walk towards the others. "Sup North, Sandy."
Destiny shortly followed Jack as he walks over to North and Sandy. Destiny not saying a word went over to a window and watching the outside world while thinking.
Tooth flutters In in a rush followed by a few of her fairies.
She greeted everyone with a warm smile.
Jack looked around and saw that someone was missing. He smirked at North. "So are we just waiting for the slow kangaroo right? I thought he was supposed to be fast." A short chuckle left his lips.
"Toothiana. Jack! Welcome." North's booming voice was welcoming, but overzealous. He approached the younger immortal with open arms and scooped him and Toothina into a hug. He let them go to look at the group, acknowledging Destiny at the window and the missing Pooka. It was only seconds before he opened his mouth that the shivering large rabbit arrived.
Bunny came in a bit chilly. "Oi! This better be something major North!"
Good, they could get started.
"Don't worry! Don't worry. I wouldn't summon you here unless it was important-" A couple taps on his leg interrupted him, and he looked down to Sandy depicting a scene of missing eggnog. North rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment, "Haha... I thought we were dropping that, Sandman." The golden boy simply rolled his eyes in response.
A person cleared their throat, gaining the attention of everyone on the balcony. "Guardians... If we may return to the task at hand?" He was a small man, probably shorter than Sandy unless you counted the one hair on his head that held an upward swirl. He wore a simple pale white suit, and fitting his neck was a bright red bow tie. He stopped in front of the Moon Crystal and faced them.
Jack whispers towards North, "who's the small guy?" Tooth did a small chuckle at Jack's question since she overheard him say it.
All of the Guardians walk over to the mysterious man, not replying to Jack. North looked at Jack and gave off a wink while he smiled at the immortal teen. The small man placed his arms behind him and stood tall with a smile, but all the same, those who knew him could tell he was serious. Sandy knew he wouldn't make a trip to Earth unless it was of utmost importance.
"It is good to see all of you face to face. Aster, Nicholas, Toothiana, Sanderson... Jack." His eyes moved from each Guardian as he spoke their names with respect, falling last to the frost spirit. "You all have done well to fulfill the promise and role I have assigned to you as Guardians- bringing Hope and Fun and protecting the Wonder, Memories, and Dreams of the Children of the Earth..."
Jack watches with awestruck, then his eyes widened a bit. "Are you..?" He questioned with his mouth somewhat open, but quickly straightened his posture to give a formal look.
The Man in the Moon only winked, then looked over his shoulder at the Globe of Belief. Its lights shone brightly, but some flickering. He seemed deep in thought about it before speaking up. "Formalities aside.." He looked disappointed. "This time yesterday, the Moonlight Dagger - the same used to seal our old adversary away for good - was stolen from my realm and returned here, to Earth."
Sandy dropped to the floor, taking a step forward. They had just sealed him away no longer than a decade ago.
North looked up at the globe in concern. He had feared as much when MiM had asked him for the meeting, but... Hoped it wasn't so.
"All we have to do is find the dagger and thrust it deeper into the crystal, so that bloody darkness never escapes," Bunnymund spoke.
Tooth sighed, "we have to find the dagger as soon as possible before Pitch escapes."
Jack smiled towards the Guardians, "how hard can that be. We defected him over and over again. He has nothing against us. So all we have to do is find the dagger and if he breaks free, will be ready."
"No. This is different, Jack." The Russian stroked his beard as he looked to his comrades. "If it were easy for him to escape, he would've done so. We know he would take any advantage, including right now, but he hasn't. We have time to find this thief and crystal."
The Man in the Moon was silent. North turned to him, "Manny, do you know-"
The small man shook his head. "Whoever has it was affected by the very darkness that consumed Pitch Black." He turned to Guardians. "Be wary and stay vigilant- Even sealed in a crystal, that shadow is like nothing you can imagine. I advise you chase after any rumor or sighting of Darkness, and I will help where I can from my realm."
"We will need a strategy." North stroked his beard thoughtfully. "We have enough power to seize the dagger, and deal with him if he escapes, as Jack says. But finding it is..." The Russian looked to his side and did a double take, seeing a sleeping Sandy. He slapped his shoulder, waking the Constellation from his short slumber. "Sandman, ideas? Strategy for finding small dagger?"
The golden boy tilted his head to think but quickly pointed at the globe. Already, some lights were flickering in and out, a sure sign of fear, darkness, or him... He pointed again and put his fist in his hand. They needed to kick some butt first if they were going to get Pitch out of hiding.
Tooth looked over to her fairies and smile. "We are always ready. Wings up ladies!"
"It's about time for some excitement around here!" Jack spoke of excitement.
Bunnymund agreed with everyone else as they depart.