"Valentina! Why are you on top of the globe?!"

North was panicking. Valentina was on top of the globe, meaning that she was blocking his view of the lights.

"It's comfy and I don't want to go in my room. I'm also bored because while Jack is allowed outside, you have caged up my dragon and grounded me. I'm protesting."

North snapped.

"GET DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW! YOU ARE DOUBLY GROUNDED!"

Jack came in. "I can hear you from the other end of the Pole, North!" He followed North's gaze.

"Val, why are you…"

North snorted. "She is protesting against her grounding."

"And you, Mr Frost, can't freeze the globe." She snuggled her face into a cushion.

"Get down from there!"

"My terms are these: Lift the sentence and free the dragon. Also, let me have some candy."

Jack sighed. "The globe can thaw, right?"

North nodded a silent affirmative. Jack shot a burst of frosty magic towards the globe and Val slid off screeching. "DAMN YOU FROST!"

She hovered in front of him, desperately flapping her wings. She clapped her hands and the staff appeared. "I hate being cooped up! Both of you are keeping me here! And I hate it!" Grass sprung up from the floor followed by cactus plants.

"Why cactus plants?" Suddenly it started to rain pebbles inside the Pole. Jack froze Val's wings and she dropped. "Phil, catch!"

The pebbles fell to the ground as Phil caught Valentina, who started to cry. He started scolding her and carried her out of the main room.

Jack looked at North. "What's up with her?"

North sighed ." I think I know. But until I'm sure, I am not going to tell you."

Jack snorted a little. "If it's just a theory, you can tell me."

"She feels responsible for Pitch being hurt, and in turn, guilty that Bran now hates her."

Jack blinked. "Why would she? It's not her fault. It's Pitch's!" Jack froze an elf and North frowned.

"Jack! It is just a theory."

Bran was storming around. "How could they? I know you're okay, Dad, but those stupid guardians ruined my plans!"

Pitch sneered. "And they were not my plans. Which are working."

"Your plans are to sit here regaining strength! Which, when you could gain strength from her, is stupid!"

The nightmares whinnied at him. "Yeah, I know. He's not stupid. Sorry, Father."

Pitch looked at him. "I will leave you to your thoughts, Bran."

He left and Bran glared at the ground.

Wide grey eyes came closer as Val rushed up to him, reassuring him that Pitch would be fine, while the guardians eyed both father and son with contempt. He shoved her towards them, and Sandman glared at him, and the last thing he saw was Val being dragged off. All the while, Jack Frost had murder in his eyes.

The stupid Guardian of Fun had actually come for someone like Val like she was important to him, and glared at him in a I-wish-I-could-kill-or-maim-you way. His fears had washed over Bran so quickly and now he hated him.

Even if Val was MiM's daughter, she wasn't much. Not to Bran. Not at all.

"Why am I thinking about it?" he screamed, and sand exploded to his left.

Pitch snickered from the shadows. The boy was now behaving like an adolescent human. How hilarious. His son had only ever behaved as Pitch told him, and his own Pitch-like plans were causing him to slowly behave like himself. Delicious irony.

…

Sandy sat beside Valentina.

"I feel like the Pole is a cage, Sandy. I just want to go outside."

Sandy shook his head.

"Why? I can take care of myself!"

Sandy made a series of images, meaning Could you hurt Bran if necessary? Valentina sighed.

"No. I don't like hurting people. But I could keep him in one place."

Sandy shook his head again. No way was she going to be allowed out.

"Bran can get into the pole anyway, if Pitch can."

Sandy raised an eyebrow. A little cat appeared over his head.

"I know. Only if he's lucky enough to get past the spells and yetis."

Sandy looked at her.

"My spells. The hexes that release a random event on anyone who uses a portal under the bed."

Sandy gave her a thumbs up.

"I know, it's a good idea, but can I please go outside?"

Sandy shook his head.

"Argh!" Valentina stormed out and slammed the door.

Jack met her in the hallway. "Hey."

Valentina sniffed. "Go away."

She flew through a window and breathed in the fresh air.

Jack yelped. "Get back in here!"

"Shan't." She tapped the paintball gun strapped to her side. "Don't think I'm so helpless, Jack! I'll be fine!" She hovered, and spread out her wings. Then she flew away and dropped into the snow.

See, Jack? I'll just stay here.

Jack flew out of the window after her and found her lying in the snow ready with the gun.

"Oww! What the hell?"

"Snowball versus paintball!"