Darkness fell into step with Piper, her head clearer than it had been since Cupid. Pitch was ahead of them, and had barely spoken to them since he'd been shot by the cherub's arrow.

They were in New Zealand, in yet another forest. Dark was beginning to wonder if they'd ever go anywhere besides forests and Burgess. They were walking along side a large ridge of mountains, thankfully devoid of snow, and to the other side was a great still lake, bordered by open plain with dense forest, through which they were strolling. The sunlight was streaming in green rays through the tree canopy above them, but Dark didn't mind. It was warm, such a beautiful change to all the snow in Europe and North America. She considered ditching Pitch and spending Christmas here, or maybe Tasmania. Somewhere really warm, that wasn't a city or forest.

That thought was very appealing to her in that moment. She asked Piper, "You know what I'd really love right now? A mango. Have you had one before? They are the best. The best."

Piper shook his head, then jerked up, looking around him. "Where's Pitch?"

"Who cares?" Dark asked, trying for nonchalance, but inside her curiosity flared.

"That's absolutely lovely, Darkness," Pitch Black said from behind her, sliding out from behind a tree. "I'm glad you feel this way, it warms my heart, it really does."

"It'll warm my heart when you shut up," she replied, giving him a smile. "Where were you?"

"Preparing. We're ready for our newest ally now. Come on."

They followed him into a clearing at the base of the mountain, and Dark gave a small gasp. Painted onto the mossy rock was a large, pastel rainbow, faded and worn, but still large in size. Around their feet lay hundreds of bones, big and small. Dark gave a little hop off the ground, floating on shadows above the carpet of animal remains.

"Pitch," she began, looking around her. "What is this?"

"Surely you aren't afraid of some old bones?" Pitch asked, grinning at her. "Oh you are, aren't you? You think I've led you here to dispose of you, and Piper. You needn't worry though, I've got us safe travel to our ally."

"I don't think I want to meet this ally," Piper murmured, crouching to one knee to inspect a skull. "These are the bones of a child."

"What? Pitch- no, this is wrong..." Dark backed away slowly. "Find someone else- Wait, what was that?"

There was a loud tearing noise from under the rainbow, and Dark realised it was a cave, and in side it was-

"It's a unicorn." Piper said.

"Indeed," Pitch told him, walking towards the cave.

"It is a unicorn." He looked at Dark. "Tell him it's a unicorn."

Dark turned to the Bogeyman. "It's a unicorn."

"I can see that."

Piper shook his head. "I never imagined a unicorn to look like that."

Neither did Dark. It was white, with a rust coloured horn, a red stained mouth and purple eyes. The unicorn was taller than Dark, it's white fur sleek and shiny, looking exactly like a little girl's dream. Except for the fact it was eating a dog.

"It's eating a dog," Dark noted, wondering how sanity seemed to have deserted the situation in a few small seconds. "It is covered in the blood of a Dalmatian."

"She." Pitch corrected. "Uni is a she."

"It- she has a name?" Dark asked.

"Yes, and you'd better use it, before she starts eating you."

The unicorn turned around then, and let out a long whinny, which sounded like bells jingling prettily. Dark went to back away, but Pitch caught her arm, shaking his head. Uni pawed at the dirt, lowering her horn to charge.

"Uni, I have an offer for you, you might want to hear it out," Pitch called, and the great beast tilted her head slightly, blood dripping from her nose. "You love your children don't you? They're yours to protect and have fun with, aren't they? They belong to you."

Uni let out a cautious snort.

"But there's one thing you can't keep from them- their teeth," Pitch continued, and all at once the unicorn shook her head and stamped her feet angrily. Dark thought that Pitch must be using an old irk that plagued the unicorn, as it whinnied louder.

"Yes, yes I thought so," Pitch told her soothingly. "The Tooth Fairy does have some nerve taking your children's teeth. But we want to stop her. Her and the rest of the Guardians. Then they wont other you anymore. But we need your help."

Uni cocked her head again and moved forward, the sound of bells escaping her blood stained muzzle again.

"Yes," Pitch replied. "But I only give them a nightmare or two, only enough to stay alive, I swear it. But those Guardians, they're taking over your duty to the children, aren't they? And, if you help us, I promise to leave your kids alone. Is it a deal?"

The unicorn stared at them for a long moment, before bowing it's head and turning back to the dog carcass. Satisfied by this answer, Pitch followed her back to her cave. Dark gave Piper a long look, before together they followed him.

The cave was littered with the unicorn's freshest prey, the bloody skeletons of dogs, cats, birds and even rabbits. Dark gave a long gasp as she spotted the far wall. Against it lay the skeletons of dozens of children. Most seemed to be oer the age of ten, but it was hard to judge with bones. She went to jump back, but Pitch's hands wrapped around her arms tightly, holding her in place. He whispered in her ear. "Don't run, Uni likes moving prey."

"What do you think you're doing- this thing is a monster."

"Shush, before she hears you and kills us all. Trust me, she won't harm us, we'll be lucky." Pitch pulled her further back into the cave and she stepped away from him, finding herself shaking, some old terror filling her. Something about horses...

Pitch gave a huckle, then stopped when he saw her expression. "Sorry- old habits die hard. Feear is fear, after all."

Piper stood behind her, still as stone. "Can you hear that?"

Above the tearing of the dog's flesh, there was a small whimpering from the back of the cave. Dark moved forward, feeling a child in the shadows, a large child, female with wide eyes and ragged hair.

"Help me," she whispered, and Dark knelt before her, grabbing her hands.

"Boo," Pitch jumped up at the girl, who reeled away, crying out. He gave a laugh. "Oh God, it's been so long since I was believed in."

"Stop it," Dark told him angrily. "We have to help her."

Pitch shook his head. "We can't- she's Uni's now. If we tried it would be a death sentence for all of us. If you're so worried- go talk to the Guardians about it."

Dark looked over her shoulder to see his eyes gleaming golden in the dark, he towered above her, but she pushed him in the chest. "What is wrong with this unicorn, Pitch? What kind of sick, twisted creature is it?"

Pitch shook his head. "Unicorns love their children. They are in fact a child's best friend- but too much so. She hates to share, and will kill any other pets the child has, only wanting to be the center of the child's attention. But she will only love a child. When the child grows up, becoming a teenager- well, these skeletons here are the examples."

"You can't be serious..." Dark insisted. "We're not having a murderer as an ally."

There was a sharp cough from behind her, and she looked to see Piper staring at her pointedly. "You seemed happy enough with me."

"Yes, but you didn't eat them..." Dark said, staring in disgust at the unicorn. But all Piper did was smile.