Two weeks passed, the lily was doing well in the nutrient rich soils of the Warren, but wouldn't sprout for another two weeks, and the Guardians hadn't seen hide nor hair of the pooka. Until now. He had opened the tunnel to North's workshop on a whim, he wasn't too sure why.

"Bunny!" North boomed, strolling across the rich red carpet to the haggard rabbit. "We haven't seen you in long time!" North laughed loudly, absently waving off some elves with a plate of cookies. "What made you leave so quickly?" He asked, curious.

Tooth seemingly appeared out of thin air. "Bunnymund! Hello! Wait, what's wrong? What happened?" She flitted around him, a concerned look on her face.

Sandy woke from his nap in the corner, noticing the Easter spirit. Several pictures flashed above his head, no one understanding them. He got up off his floating sand pillow, and rubbed his eyes a bit.

Rubbing the sand out of his eyes, I bet. Bunnymund thought to himself with a wry chuckle. "I'm… fine. No need to worry. Just... Something happened in the Warren, nothing… majorly… important to Easter." He stopped speaking, not trusting his voice anymore. The lie felt like burning embers on his tongue.

"If not a big deal, then why are you so down?" North asked him, a white eyebrow raised.

"It was just something important to me, nothing very… noteworthy…" Bunnymund could tell that they didn't believe a word of it. "It set me back a few days on the egg painting schedule, now I have to work a lot harder for the right amount of eggs for Easter, that's all." He paused, not liking the flat stares he was getting. "Can we just start the meeting and be done with it?"

The Guardians always met at North's workshop for a meeting every full moon, nothing major had happened since the Dark Ages, so they just updated each other on the goings on around their jobs. That night had been a new moon. No Manny.

Tooth reported that a few of her fairies had gotten sick, but it didn't seem to be contagious or fatal, and the fairies were getting over it. From what they could gather of Sandy's pictures, business was usual, and children seemed to get even more imaginative with each passing year. Dreams of archeology, space, flight, giants, and everything under the rainbow filled the children's heads. North's yetis complained about the elves, but other than that, they were already making toys for the next Christmas.

It was Bunnymund's turn to report what was going on in the Warren. He thought about it for a few minutes, then decided to tell them about Seppen, but not the bond they shared. "One of my strongest believers froze to death just a while ago. I've been busy with the eggs, I should really get back. I don't have as many believers as you guys do, so the loss of even one child can be felt. I'll have to paint more eggs and hide them in more places in order for more children to believe in me. Now if you'll excuse me-"

He was cut off by a bear-hug from Tooth. He was so shocked, he couldn't move for a few seconds. Tooth… was giving him a hug? That in itself was surprising. She had also never given him a hug before...

"Oh Bunny! I'm so sorry for you! Do you need help painting? I can help!" Tooth looked at him with big, watery eyes.

"While I appreciate the thought, Tooth," he said gruffly, shifting away from the table. "I really don't need help. I'll just have to work harder, that's all." Dear god, she pities me...

"But you already work so hard! Just let me know if you need help, and I'll send a whole bunch of fairies over!"

"Uh, yeah… I'll let you know… but I don't need help…" He gently pried her off of his chest. "Don't you have teeth to collect, or something?"

Her eyes widened. "Oh my! My fairies need me!" She zoomed out the window to her palace, her little twittering and chirping bird-like helpers following behind her like leaves on the wind. She was talking into an iridescent earpiece as she flew away, something about Hockey season starting and Unit Seven, Sub-Section 32. He didn't even try to understand what that meant, Toothiana was just a bit... strange like that.

North sighed. "Energetic little hummingbird…" He turned to the yetis in the background and clapped his hands three times. "Alright everybody! Back to work!" He said the last part reverently, like he couldn't wait to create things that would allow children to see the wonder of the world. He truly enjoyed his job.

Bunnymund smiled for the first time in two weeks. Small, barely more than a twitch, but a smile nonetheless. He tapped his foot on the ground twice, opening a moss and fern covered tunnel to the Warren. He should get back to work. It was what Seppen would have wanted. A magenta flower, slightly wilted, was all that remained in the Globe Room.

She felt like she was floating. Drifting through the air, almost as if she were underwater. The air was cool, smelling of honeysuckles and roses. Bunny always told her that she smelled like that… it was a wonderful smell.

I wonder… is this really what being dead feels like? It's actually rather nice… She thought dreamily. Wait… Bunny!

Her eyes snapped open, revealing thousands of stars to her. They glittered like the most beautiful diamonds, scattered across the sky like millions of snowflakes. Her eyes were drawn to the moon, shining gloriously amongst the stars. She sat up slowly, idly realizing that she was in the middle of an abnormally calm lake. The water was black, and the trees around the lake were barren and spooky looking.

Seppen heard a quiet whisper in the back of her mind.

"You are Seppen, your power now resides around All Hallow's Eve. Use it well, child, protect your precious ones with the undying strength that you possess." The voice said with an ethereal quality, almost as if the speaker was an entity of great power.

"What do you mean? Who are you? Wasn't I dead? …Will I see… dad again?" She asked the last question more to herself than whoever the whisperer was.

"I am the Moon. You are now a spirit… I chose you because you are still destined for great things in this world, Seppen. You must work hard, and overcome many adversities." The Man in the Moon paused, as if pondering an unanswerable question. "You may see him if you wish it. He misses you like the desert misses the rain, he needs you Seppen…" He paused again. "You will grow just like any child until you reach your prime, then you will stop aging. Because you are so young, I will aide you in your new duties, but once you know what to do, you'll be doing the work." He sounded like he was smiling good-naturally. The Moon's voice then faded away as the sun started to rise in the east.

Seppen looked at the bright golds and lavenders of what was possibly the most beautiful sunrise she had ever seen. The sun just barely peeked over the horizon, bringing pinks and cheerful yellows into the array.

With the light of the rising sun, she took note of what she was wearing. Gone were the oversized, gray, ugly clothes. In their place was a silky deep blue dress. It reached the floor and felt decadent in it's weight and how it trailed behind her, and at first glance, it had dark orange embroidery along the hem. It was a heavy fabric, one that she thought she'd never be cold again in. She smiled. The dress had sleeves, and on closer examination, they were made of lace that clung to her skin.

She felt a weight on her head, and looked at her reflection on the glossy water. Resting on her head was an intricate crown, dark, and like spiderwebs. Her hair was gathered in dark ringlets that slid down her back, much more tidy and silky than before.

I'm... beautiful... She thought. She had always been told by the Dursley's that she was an ugly, ungrateful, needy wench that would never succeed in life. I-I... I'm... beautiful...

A small pumpkin bobbed out of the water. She giggled, and leaned down to pick it up. She gasped at the warmth of it, it was like a little heater in her hands. She yelped and almost dropped it when it wiggled. It bounced around in her palm, turning around, an she saw a tiny carved face smiling at her. The little jack o' lantern chittered at her and grinned.

She smiled at it, and laid a kiss on it's little cheek. "You and I are going to be good friends. Do you have a name?" The little thing frowned, and looked sad. "I suppose not then. How about Bobby?" Bobby grinned, and Seppen smiled again.

"Now, what d'ya say we go find my dad? I think you'd like him." Bobby chittered again, a happy trilling noise.