Hey guys! How're my favorite strangers? Welp, here's another chapter! By the way, sorry if it looks a bit messed up; I uploaded it on my phone and it was having serious issues. But never fear! At least I got it up...


Jack wandered around the workshop in a daze. He had expected that Tooth would be different for a while after being kidnapped, of course. But nothing could have prepared him for that conversation. He was only joking, but Tooth had kissed him. Kissed him!

Now Jack was doing some serious thinking. Tooth was his best friend. She was always someone who he could talk to without fear of embarassment. Maybe Tooth took his actions as a sign that he wanted to be more than friends? Jack certainly hadn't tried to imply that. Women were strange, Jack decided, whether they were immortal or not.

However, Jack knew he couldn't just ignore Tooth's behavior. If nothing else, he knew the way Sandy felt about her, and refused to let him be hurt just because Tooth was acting weird.

Jack let out a sigh. He wasn't going to figure this out by himself anytime soon, so he decided to visit the only person he could, given the circumstances. He ran to the nearest window and leaped out into the frosty air.

Before long, Jack saw the bustling town of Burgess come into view, and slowed his pace. He had to be more careful here. It was summer time, and that never ended well for Jack. So he took his time, traveling at a relaxed speed that wouldn't exaust him.

Finally, after what seemed like hours, Jack arrived at Jamie's house. By this time it was late evening, so Jack figured that the boy would be in bed. He flew to Jamie's window and gently pushed on the glass. It opened without protest, and Jack slipped inside.

Jamie was sitting in his bed, reading by the light of a flashlight. He looked up as Jack entered, and a huge grin split his face. "Jack!" He exclaimed. "You're back! How did it go? Did you rescue Tooth? Is she alright? Did you beat Pitch again?"

By the time Jack was through the window, Jamie was already at his side. "Whoa!" Jack almost tripped over the boy when he turned around, then laughed. "Gotta be careful, Jamie! I'm not used to people not passing through me. But ya might wanna keep it down. Won't your mom hear you?"

Jamie slapped his hands over his mouth, eyes wide, getting another chuckle out of the spirit. "But it went great. We defeated Pitch, and we got Tooth back." Jack paused. "But?" Jamie prompted. Jack sighed. "But she's acting weird."

Jamie looked confused. "What'd she do?" Jack set down his staff and ran his hands through his hair. "She kissed me," he finally answered. Jamie's eyes went wide. "But I thought you said she was like your sister?"

Jack shrugged. "She is, which is why I'm worried. I thought she liked Sandy." Jamie crossed his arms and looked like he was thinking, so Jack was silent. Eventually, Jamie spoke. "So before Pitch, Tooth likes Sandy. After Pitch, Tooth likes you, even though it's totally out of character. Maybe Pitch did something to her? But why?"

Jack froze. Jamie was right. Tooth's feelings were completely different, and the only thing that had changed was her time spent alone with Pitch. Jack knew he had been way too easy to defeat! But Pitch would never give up a captive that could give him an advantage.

"You're a genius! I gotta go, Jamie!" He exclaimed. "I gotta warn the others, I gotta find Tooth!" And with that, Jack snatched up his staff and flew out the window, leaving only some frost on the window to show he was ever there. He regreted leaving so fast, but the other Guardians had to know.

They hadn't rescued the real Tooth.


North walked through his workshop, giving orders to some of the yetis. He really hated making them do extra work, but then they should really learn to use christmas colors when painting the toys.

But no matter how many times North corrected his workers, he knew something was still off, and he didn't like not knowing what it was. That something was distracting him from his own inventions in his private workshop.

North stopped his rounds and held his chin in a large hand. He couldn't place his finger on what had changed, but he knew someone who could.

North turned to search for him, but before he could take a single step the yeti he was looking for came up to him. "Ah, Phil! Just the yeti I was looking for! Something is wrong here, but I can't put finger on what it is. Perhaps you know?"

Phil looked at him as if the answer wss obvious, and a low grunt confirmed his attitude.

"No, is not obvious. What is it, Phil?" The yeti knew better than to try North's patience, and make a series of grunting noises that no spirit but North could understand.

North slapped his head. "Of course! Why did I not see it before? Thank you, Phil." North left the yeti in the workshop and quickly walked to the upper level, where the rooms unrelated to making toys were located.

North marched to the bedroom that had been set aside for Tooth and knocked loudly. Getting no response, he opened the door and peered in.

The inside was exactly as it had been before Tooth moved in. Nothing was moved. No personal items. Not even any loose feathers. But what really disturbed North was the lack of mini fairies. North had realized it as soon as Phil had pointed it out. There hadn't been a single fairy at the North Pole since Tooth was rescued.

Tooth was never without at least one of her helpers. They were worried sick about her, surely they would've swarmed the Pole as soon as they sensed her presence here?

Something was off. The mini fairies would never leave Tooth alone, and she would never cease to worry about them. North turned to leave, but stopped when he saw Tooth in the doorway. "Eh, hello," he managed. "I was just wondering where all mini fairies are?"

Tooth giggled, but the sound died out when she realized he wasn't joking. "Oh, I just... told them to stay at the Palace. You know, keep working. Gotta get those teeth, right?" North was speechless. Tooth was obsessed with her job, but she would never shut out ALL her fairies.

Before North could act, Tooth flew out the door. He tried to follow her, but she was already gone. North wanted to search for her, but he decided he had to gather the Guardians first. They had to know.

They hadn't rescued the real Tooth.


Bunnymund crouched in his warren. He was hiding behind a large rock, watching his target move around in the grass on the other side. Bunny waited until it moved close to his hiding spot, the prepared to pounce.

Just a little closer, and... now! Bunny launched over the rock and grabbed his prize. "Gotcha now, ya little beauty!" He held up the small egg to his face. "Now what color should I paint you, eh, mate?"

Before Bunny could decide, he heard a buzzing noise. He realized it could only be Tooth, and that North must have let her out. "Well now, looks like we're gonna have company," he muttered as he grinned at the egg.

Sure enough, Tooth soon flew out of one of the many tunnels that made up Bunny's warren. He set down the egg as she quickly spotted him and made her way over. "Hey Bunny! How's Easter coming? I mean, I know it's months away, but still..." She trailed off. "Are you... laughing at me?" She exclaimed.

Bunny, meanwhile, was trying his hardest not to laugh. "Sheila, it's coming along as well as it was when you asked me at the Pole. Half an hour ago."

Tooth blushed, but giggled. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I got kinda excited." Bunny couldn't help the smile on his face. "It's all right. Easter makes everyone excited!" Tooth was about to reply when she saw the egg behind him. "Ohhh! It's so cute! What color are you going to paint it?"

Bunny turned and scooped the egg into his paws. "I dunno. I haven't decided yet." Tooth held her hands over her heart. "You should paint it blue!" She declared. Bunny smirked and suddenly a brush appeared in his other hand.

Tooth watched as Bunny expertly colored the egg, first painting it solid sky blue. Before he could continue, Tooth spoke up again. "Can you make frost designs on it, too?"

The request seemed a little odd, but Bunny complied and make swirling patterns in dark blue. When he finished, he held it up for inspection. After deciding it was complete, he presented it to Tooth. "One frosty blue egg, as requested," he said proudly.

Tooth gazed at it. "It's perfect, Bunny. Just amazing." Bunny shuffled awkwardly under the praise. "Thanks, Sheila," he said simply. "Listen, I made some really tasty raspberry chocolate earlier, want some?" Bunny knew she would refuse, just like she always did. Sugar 'rots your teeth' and he must always 'brush and floss after eating any'.

Naturally, it came as a great surprise when she nodded. "Chocolate sounds amazing. I haven't had any in forever." Bunny was so shocked that he barely noticed when he tripped over his own feet. "Aaahhh, sure thing, Tooth. Just let me, ah, go get it."

Bunny tried to act naturally. He couldn't let on that he was suspicious; who knew what she would do? He just had to pretend that everything was fine until she left, then he could tell the other Guardians.

They hadn't rescued the real Tooth.


Sandy landed in the Tooth Palace and looked around. The few fairies he saw were doing their jobs, but were obviously still depressed. It didn't make sense to him; if they were so sad, why didn't they visit Tooth? Sure the fairies couldn't all go at once, but at least they could go.

Sandy wandered through the halls until he found Baby Tooth, still giving orders. He walked over to her and waited patiently for her to notice him. When she did, Sandy formed a miniature Tooth over his head and indicated that she was safe. Oddly, Baby Tooth looked confused and shook her head.

Baby Tooth pointed at the dream sand Tooth and sqeaked, but Sandy couldn't understand her. If only Jack were here; he was good at this. But Baby Tooth kept pointing, then mimed crying. Sandy cocked his head. Tooth was sad? That didn't make any sense. Maybe Baby Tooth was over-worked.

Sandy showed that Tooth was at the North Pole and turned to leave, but the mini-fairy stopped him. She was shaking her head violently, as if she knew Tooth wasn't with North. But where else could she be? Sandy didn't know what to do, so he just shrugged and walked towards the exit. When he reached it, he turned and waved, but Baby Tooth didn't return it. The last thing he saw was a look of despair on her face.

Sandy left quickly; the Palace kept bringing up painful memories of his rejection. He decided to return home for a quick nap before he spread his dreams. He was still destracted by his thoughts when he ran into Tooth.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Sandy-" she began, but he waved his hands in front of his face. He pointed at himself and gave her an apologetic smile. "It's alright," she said. Sandy suddenly realized something. Tooth looked at the picture of North's workshop followed by a question mark hanging over Sandy's head and began to fidget. "Well, I went to visit Bunny, you see, and then I wanted to hang out with you for a little bit."

Sandy knew he should be a little suspicious. There was no way North had let Tooth go so soon. He also knew that he should bring Tooth back, but Sandy brushed those thoughts aside. If Tooth wanted to spend time with him, he definately wasn't going to argue.

Sandy offered Tooth his arm, and she took it with a laugh. "Why, thank you, kind sir," she joked. Sandy beamed at her, and they flew away with no fixed destination in mind.

If Sandy hadn't been so happy just to be near Tooth, he might have noticed the uncharacteristicly evil sneer that she now wore, and maybe, just maybe, he might have been able to save himself from the coming events.


So again, it probably looks messed up, but I'll fix it if it does. NEXT CHAPTER HAS ACTION! WOO!