A/N: Well, as promised, here's a fairly quick update. I'm checking over part 3 of the interlude and will have it up soon as well. I'm just starting working on part 4, which if all goes to plan, will be the last bit of the interlude.

But enough of my jabbering, on with the story!

Interlude

Chapter 8.2: The Message

The Tooth Fairy's job is to collect children's lost teeth for safekeeping and leave a small gift in exchange. Unlike Santa Claus, there were no asking for specific gifts or mini-bribes of milk and cookies. The exchange was executed like a dead drop between spies with no interaction between the parties. This was why Tooth cherished what few notes and letters her fairies did bring back to her from their rounds.

The most common of these were IOU's from children who'd accidentally swallowed their lost tooth. This was an occurrence she'd run into early in her existence and had discovered that she and all of the small fairies had a very special shared magical ability; they could magically and cleanly teleport the swallowed tooth and only the tooth out of the child and into their possession. She wasn't about to let any of the precious memories that she was Guardian of be lost or destroyed.

The second type of note was a small thank-you note written by the children, usually at the behest of parents trying to teach them manners. Notes like these were brought to her by her fairies initially so she could read them and then pinned on the wall in a large room inside her castle, treasured forever.

Occasionally, she'd get a note from a child who seemed to be crying out for someone, anyone, to help them. These she would share with the other Guardians and they would see what they were able to do for the child. Every time she received one of these notes, her heart would break a little until something was done.

In all of her centuries, these messages fell into one of these three categories, which was why the message that Baby Tooth now brought her made her fall about a foot before catching herself when her wings froze in surprise at the first sentence.

Dear Tooth Fairy,

It's Toothiana, right? I really am sorry about sending you a message this way, but it was the only thing I could come up with. I kind of took advantage of a little boy that I babysit losing his tooth to get this letter to you, since I'm twelve now and losing one of my own would be a bit painful. My name is Cyndi Lorenz, and I really need to talk to you or one of the other Guardians. It's about Jack. Something happened the other day...something bad. Please, he's one of my best friends and I'm worried.

Please send someone soon.

P.S. I live in Phoenix now, it used to be Iowa. You should be able to find me, but watch out for my big brother…I'll explain everything.

Tooth started flittering around and becoming more and more agitated as she read the short letter. What could have happened? Was he hurt? She left the rest of the collection chores that day to her small fairies and flew as fast as she could to Santoff Clausen.

North was in his office working on his ice-sculpture prototypes when his door burst open. Expecting to see a panicking yeti, he was a bit surprised to look up from his work to see a highly-agitated Toothiana in the doorway to his office, a piece of paper clutched in her hand. "Tooth, what is it? Is something bad?"

She wordlessly pushed the paper into his hand. His eyes grew wide as he read the letter from the concerned twelve-year-old, his expression quickly mirroring the worry in Tooth's features. "Have you seen Jack in the past few days, North?" She asked when it was clear he was finished reading.

"No, but I don't see him every time he visits Pole. Phil would know; I call for him." He then proceeded to command a passing yeti to make sure Phil got there quickly.

It took less than five minutes for the yeti in question to arrive, but it felt like an hour to the agonizing Tooth. She barely even registered the mountain of fur's disheveled state; looking exhausted and with splatters of frosting hardening in different places on his body. He said something in yetish as he entered, probably an explanation and/or apology for his state and a question his boss about why he was called.

"Was Jack here in last few days?" North demanded. At the yeti's affirmative response, "Two days ago. Anything seem wrong when you see him?"

The yeti's features stretched a bit in an expression of painful sympathy and sadness as he garbled and choked out what he'd seen.

"He was curled up in a corner in his room and crying about something?" This was extremely disconcerting because Jack never let anyone see him cry. "Why you not tell me when this happen?"

The yeti's semi-defiant response was understandable to anyone. "He made you promise, didn't he?" Tooth said softly. "It's been over twenty years, and he still can't share his pain with us. What happened after that?"

North translated the yeti's answering mumbled rumbles, "Phil stayed with him until he fell asleep. Boy was gone by morning."

"Oh! We need to find him!" Exclaimed Tooth, half-sobbing, as she flitted nervously in the direction of the globe room.

North caught her by the shoulder. "Wait, I think maybe we want to talk to little Cyndi first. You know Jack never tell us anything unless he has to. Someone need to talk to her; problem is I do not know which of us she'll be able to see. The rest of us have many many believers all over, but many stop before they become teenager. Jack has small, but growing number, that keep until much older."

"Well, she sent me the letter." Tooth said defensively.

North turned his hand to a more comforting grip. "Yes, but that not necessarily mean she believes. She tried only idea she had a prayer might work quickly. No guarantee, and you cannot afford so long of a trip to find out while you're working unless absolutely have to." She gave him a pained glare, angry at the truth in his words. "I have similar problem. Most not really believe in me by twelve. Neither of us have direct contact."

"Then, Sandy?" Tooth asked and then immediately rejected. "No, she may believe in him, but she said she needed to talk, and it didn't sound like the kind of talk she'd be happy to have with pictograms. So that leaves—"

As if on cue a rabbit hole opened up in the hallway not 5 feet from them and a blue-furred head popped out. "Oi, am I late for grub?"

A/N: Yup, gonna send Bunny in...got a couple reasons for it to be him, but you'll see at least one during the next chapter.

Review Responses:

LittleMrsAdams: Oh got, your review made me laugh so hard...is that a bad thing? Well, noone ever said Schadenfreude was nice, but everybody does it.

Rahar Moonfire: Hang in there, have some patience. Part of a good story is not resolving the pivotal conflict too quickly. I think you'll like the next chapter (evil grin)

Zuzanny: Thanks, I wish I could say that the twists were uber-planned ahead of time, but that's only partially true. The number of morphs this story has taken as I've gotten ideas is plain ridiculous.

Tzapporah signing off!