Hey guys! I feel like I haven't updated in FOREVER. But let's face it, a week really isn't that long. ANYWAY. I literally had to drag this chapter out of my head; it seems my inspiration has transferred to Despicable Me 2. Also, I just wanted to get this thing up, so I didn't actually proof read it... let me know about any mistakes!
Sandy sat and watched the stars with Tooth by his side. He imagined this was almost what a date felt like. He could at least pretend, right?
The night was getting chilly, so Sandy tapped Tooth's shoulder to ask if she was cold. "Oh, no, Sandy, I'm fine, thanks. I like the cold. It reminds me of Jack," she sighed wistfully. Sandy stared at her. Had she been thinking about Jack this whole time? Did Sandy's friendship mean nothing anymore? He looked down.
Tooth apparently interpreted his action as a sign of disappointment in her. "What?" She asked sharply. "Is it wrong for me to like Jack?" Sandy quickly waved his hands in front of himself and shook his head. He hadn't meant that at all, but Tooth wasn't listening anymore. "You're jealous, aren't you? Angry that I like Jack instead of you?"
Sandy froze as she spoke. He was more surprised by the fact that she was right than that she said it out loud. He was jealous. He loved Tooth more than anything, and he couldn't have her. Of course he was upset!
Suddenly, Tooth slapped him. Sandy raised his hand to his sore cheek. 'Where did that come from?!' He thought. "You're selfish, Sandy," she hissed. "You don't care about anyone but yourself, and what you want. Why couldn't you just be happy for me and Jack?"
Sandy was mystified. He had no idea what he'd done wrong. It seemed like Tooth actually wanted to fight with him. But maybe he was being selfish? Sandy couldn't bear the thought of hurting Tooth and dropped to his knees. He stared up at her and tried to pour all his love and apologies into that one look.
For a moment Tooth raised her hand, and Sandy feared she would hit him again, but after hesitating, she dropped her hand. "I can't do it," she whispered. She began to cry. Sandy stood slowly, unsure what he should do. "I can't do it!" Tooth screamed as she began to cry. "What's wrong with me?"
Sandy patted her arm and tried to tell her that nothing was wrong with her. "You don't get it!" Tooth cried. "I'm not Tooth!" Sandy looked at her like she was crazy. You don't just say something like that without seeming a little off. "Look at me," she said. "Do you really believe I'm her?"
Sandy obeyed and stood back to take in her appearance. Wings, feathers, bright colors, all exactly as they should be. But her eyes. They were missing something, something that had been there for months, at least. Something that had been there since Sandy had come back after being 'killed' by Pitch. Sandy didn't know what it was, but he knew it shouldn't be missing.
Sandy's first thoughts went immediately to the real Tooth. She must still be with Pitch; it was the only explanation. Then he noticed the sobbing creature who had fallen to the ground. She wasn't his Tooth, but she had come clean and obviously needed comforting.
Sandy knelt and gently pulled her into a hug. At first she stiffened, but eventually she relaxed into his arms. "Why... why are you doing this?" She asked when she regained some composure. "I've been posing as your love and putting you through your worst nightmare. You should hate me!"
Sandy wagged his finger at her. He created an image of himself hugging various people, friends and strangers, trying to tell her that everyone deserved kindness. Not-Tooth slowly nodded. "But why couldn't I do it? I was made specifically to hurt you. What went wrong? What am I?" Sandy shrugged. He had no idea, but he was glad this girl decided to tell the truth.
Suddenly, the other Guardians charged in, riding North's sleigh. "Sandy! That ain't Tooth!" Bunny shouted. "Is an imposter," North added redundantly. Sandy nodded his head calmly, but didn't release her.
Jack was the first to lower his weapon. "You know?" He asked, confused. Not-Tooth spoke for him. "I confessed." She stated. "Pitch created me to make Sandy miserable, and eventually kill him if I could. I was going to try tonight, but I couldn't do it. I hit him, but the look he gave me... I just couldn't do it!"
Bunny snickered. "You punched him?" North slapped his head, and Bunny fell silent. Sandy helped not-Tooth stand as she groaned in frustration. "This feels so wrong! I want to hurt you, but I can't! I don't know what I am!"
Jack walked up to her. "Why?" He asked. Not-Tooth looked at him dumbly. "Why do you wanna kill him so bad?" He elaborated. "I... I don't know!" She replied.
North cut in. "Maybe you do not want to kill Sandy. Probably is just Pitch controlling you." Not-Tooth stared at the Guardians. "You're right," she marvelled. "You have to be! But I think he made me too much like Tooth."
The men all just stared at her. 'What makes ya say that, Sheila?" Bunny asked. Not-Tooth shuffled awkwardly, and her cheeks reddened. "Well, ah, I may, sort of, slightly, like Sandy? A lot?"
Sandy blushed golden, embarrassed. Bunny stared at the fairy, and North nodded smugly. Jack laughed outright and fell back into the sleigh.
"Alright, we get the point. Awkward comment. But you asked!" Not-Tooth said, obviously flustered. Sandy quickly nodded in agreement. While he would forgive this girl, his heart still ached to find Tooth. He pointed this out, and everyone became serious.
"Right!" North shouted. He pointed a finger at not-Tooth. "You! Can you show us how to find real Tooth?" The copy nodded, and they all boarded the sleigh. "Go back to where we escaped the first time," not-Tooth said. "The tunnel should still be open, and Pitch won't be expecting us." North obeyed, and with a shouted command they were off.
Jack leaned in towards Sandy. "Are you sure we can trust her?" Sandy shrugged. "Yeah, me neither," Jack whispered. He turned to Bunny to ask what he thought, and laughed when he saw the Kangaroo holding on for dear life. Apparently he wasn't over his fear of flying yet.
Soon, they touched down in the same clearing they had left only yesterday. By now the sun was almost up, and Jack realized with a start that he hadn't slept in days. He was just so worried about Tooth; they all were.
They descended the tunnel without another word. There was no need to speak, and maybe this time they could catch Pitch unaware. North was first, followed by Bunny, then Jack. Not-Tooth was behind him, leaving Sandy to pick up the rear. Jack knew he was there in case not-Tooth was tricking them again.
This time, the tunnel branched off every so often, and Jack hoped that was a good sign. It meant Pitch wasn't leading them, right? But North never hesitated as he marched down the path, not bothering to even look down the other passages.
Finally, they came to a small, circular cave. Strangely, a candle sat near the wall, casting everything into shadows. In a chair on the opposite side of the room was Tooth. Her head sagged forward and her wings were drooping, but it was her. Jack wanted to shout for joy. Finally, everything would be okay.
Sandy was the last one into the poorly lit room, but he was the first one by Tooth's side. He untied her wrists and tilted her head up. At first he thought she was asleep, but then she opened her eyes. Sandy could see the surprise and disbelief in them, and also the unidentifiable something that her copy was missing. This was Tooth, and he was never going to let her go again.
"Sandy?" Tooth whispered. "But... you left. Pitch tricked you guys and you went home. What made you come back?"
Jack helped Tooth to her feet as Sandy steadied her. "We knew the copy wasn't real, Tooth," he said. Tooth looked at each of them. "Really?" She asked happily. Bunny nodded. "You're one of a kind, mate," he said as he smiled.
Tooth beamed at him, then looked at Sandy and hugged him tightly. He was surprised, but that didn't stop him from returning the action. She eventually let go, keeping his hand in hers. "What happened to fake me?" Tooth asked.
Not-Tooth slowly stepped out from where she had been hiding behind North. "Hi," she said nervously with a small wave. Tooth walked cautiously over to her double and stared. Both just stood and gaped at each other until Jack cut in.
"Ooookay," he said awkwardly. "All in favor of leaving, say aye." Everyone quickly agreed and they ran for the exit. They made it less than halfway down the original tunnel before they heard an angry voice.
"What is this?" Pitch's disembodied voice said. "Why are you here? I thought I sent you all away!" The group was suddenly blasted by a strong wind. "Move!" North bellowed. Unfortunately, everyone dashed into the tunnel nearest to them, and no one noticed that they had split up until it was too late. Sandy had followed Jack, but when he looked back, they were alone. He caught a quick glimpse of one Tooth pulling the other down a side tunnel before everything went black.
It only took Sandy a moment to realize that the entire main tunnel was filled with nightmares. Jack grabbed his arm and dragged him down the tunnel, ducking down random turns and twists in an effort to lose the black sand. Sandy didn't let himself be led for long, quickly finding his feet and running behind Jack. The tunnel was too small for any of his usual tricks, and the glow of his dream sand would draw too much attention.
Suddenly the passageway ended and the two Guardians were in yet another cavern. Bunny and North emerged from another tunnel seconds later, and they all ran to the center of the cave. Sandy formed an image of Tooth, and one of not-Tooth. Jack looked around. "Sandy's right. Where are they?" He wondered.
"Does it matter?" The Guardians spun around to see Pitch astride one of his nightmares. "None of you shall make it out of here alive. And since my little experiment failed, it looks like I'll have to kill you all myself!" The Guardians raised their various weapons as nightmares rushed at them from all directions.
Sandy poured all his anger and frustration into fighting these monsters. Pitch used his dream sand to make these things. How dare he? Then he crossed the line by using it on Tooth. He was going to pay; Sandy would make sure of it this time.
Sandy's friends fought just as ferociously. They were every bit as angry as he was; Tooth was their friend, and no one was going to ruin that.
Pitch growled. "Pathetic Guardians. You think you've won? You've accomplished nothing! I'll be back, and stronger than ever!" He suddenly turned and ran for an exit. Sandy was about to chase after him when Tooth and her copy finally emerged from the tunnel furthest away from him.
Pitch reached the entrance to the passage and turned to face them. "Can't have you all following me, can I?" He said with a wicked smile. Sandy was horrified to see Pitch form the same bow that had almost killed him a few months ago. Sandy closed his eyes as he heard the arrow release, and waited for the nightmare sand to consume him again.
But it never came. Sandy's eyes shot open and he spun around, Pitch completely forgotten. He glanced at each of the other Guardians before he looked at the other end of the cave. One of the fairies was staring at the black arrow protruding from her chest, and the other had a terrified look on her face.
Sandy couldn't move for a moment, then he began to sprint. Which Tooth was dying? He was too far away to tell. Too late; she was already falling, and Sandy was only halfway there. The other Tooth caught her twin and lowered her to the ground.
Sandy finally slid to a stop behind the unharmed Tooth Fairy. He almost didn't want to look. What would he see? The face of his love? Or the face of a scared, innocent, brand new being?
Sandy put his hand on the injury free spirit, and she turned to stare up at him. He saw tears in her eyes, and worry. More than anything else he saw sorrow. She knew her twin was dying, and no one could help her. Sandy finally saw something different. Something he couldn't put a name to. Something wonderful that made Sandy's heart soar with joy. His Toothiana was safe.
Sandy hugged her and knelt next to the copy. She tried to sit up, but couldn't. "Hey... Sandy," she managed. "I guess you can trust me now, right?" She laughed, but it came out strangled. Sandy nodded sadly, and a single tear ran down his face. "Please... don't cry... I know... what I am now..." Sandy created a question mark, and she smiled. "I'm free."
As she spoke, her skin turned to sand and slowly darkened, until nothing was left but nightmare sand. Tooth sniffed sadly, and Sandy helped her up. He stormed over to the last place he'd seen the Nightmare King. Pitch wasn't going to get away that easily.
You know, I was tempted to make you wait to see who died, but then I was like, naw! I don't want people to hate me.