Karma just stared in horror at the note that was written with the blood from a human she called friend. It had dried by then, giving it even more of a sickening color and a crackled look. Bugs were around the blood as well trying to scavenge what they could from the horrible sight. She felt water fall off her face and soon realized it was her fresh tears gliding down her cheeks onto Amala's small head. She started to shake a little with the girl held tightly in her arms. She forced her eyes shut and started to count out loud, hoping her strong voice could somehow make the horrible scene disappear from her sight.

"One." she said the word, or at least she thought she did, it only looked like she mouthed it.

"Two." she tried again, her voice still tight as she pressed Amala closer to her.

"Three." no voice still as she pressed her face into Amala's soft thick black hair.

"One." her voice came out as a whisper that even she could barely hear.

"Two." this word was a little louder, but not much.

"Three." came out as croak more than anything, making it fully obvious that she was crying.

"One." finally her voice was loud enough that the room could hear.

"Two." she now began to slightly wail, her word louder, but less comprehendible. She hesitantly peeked out of the head of hair she buried herself in, in hopes that the horrific scene had replaced itself with a more acceptable one that she deemed worthy of Amala coming home to. Unfortunately her hopes were too high and it seemed that her time closing her eyes only brought out each disfigured detail even more.

"Three..." her voice returned to a low whispered as she looked back to note that was splattered out for her on the sickening bloodstained walls. She tormented herself yet again as she re-read what the murderous note read.

"I. Found. Your. Weakness. - Love, War."

She continued to stare at the note in misery and fear. She began to shake fiercely as more tears fell from her pale face.

"No..." she began to sob. "NO!" she wailed. She forgot the audience that surrounded her and the child that was in her arms. The thing she was running from finally caught up to her and was ruining her life and her family. Not only was she in trouble, but also the people she befriended were in trouble.

-/-: -

Nobody dared to move. They were all in too much shock. Sure each of them had seen a dead body or two in their time as immortal beings, but nothing like this. No they have never seen anything so gruesome and sickening. This mutilated corpse that was hanging in front of them hardly looked human anymore. They all hoped that this was some sick trick that Karma was pulling, but they knew it wasn't true. Not from the tears that she was shedding. They saw her tears fall along with some mucus that began to slowly creep from her small button nose. She looked miserable, defeated, scared, nothing like the Karma they began to know. No she wasn't the confident, sarcastic, prideful, beautiful being. She looked like a wrecked emotional child. She looked so weak so vulnerable, so... Human.

They knew whatever was going to happen the next few days would be very important for all of them. Manny had chosen a new guardian, but why they never imagined. There were not many evils out there that the big 5 could not handle; they thought Pitch would he the worst of it, but how wrong all of them were. Never in all their lives had they experienced such unnatural fear of the unknown.

They all read the note once, they didn't dare to read it more than needed, their minds already scared by their rushed reading. The note was by the infamous War himself, one of the legendary Four Horsemen.

They were not very familiar with the Four Horsemen, their section dealing with children's happiness instead of something so dark. However, they have each encounter one or two horsemen in their previous or current lifetime.

Jack had encountered the famous death when he froze in the lake. The boy expected the horseman to be terrifying, but that was the opposite of what death was. Death was an old man, but not a weak or crippled one. Yes death carried a cane, yet walked with confidence. He was a strong, yet kind man and comforted Jack when he was beginning to take him away. Right when death was about to take him away Manny interfered and told Death to leave him here and revive him into a spirit. Death didn't complain and did so gladly. Jack had run into the old man a few more times over the course of his immortality, and each time they were kind to one another.

Tooth, North, Bunnymund, and Sandy all thought the same about misunderstood spirit. No bitter thoughts or bad opinions were said about the old Horseman. Most humans portrayed Death as this psycho spirit that went on a killing rampage 24/7, but he was the opposite. He was doing his job, yet most everyone hated him or feared the kind spirit. Death had grown use to the harassment that he received from most mortals, even some of the spirits fear or hated him. Death held no bitter feelings for anybody, even his deadly and dangerous brothers. His brothers War and Famine, however, should be feared and not taken likely with their powers and their hatred for most everything. His brother Pestilence, however, was different from his brothers in general.

Pestilence was a weird one. His occupation in the human world both surprising and yet when one learns of it, it is quite fitting him. Pestilence is a scientist, almost always conjuring something up in his unsanitary and messy lab. Potions and lab equipment littered all around the lab, sloppily decorating it, but that made even better for the Horseman. When he got the rare visitor, usually people pictured him as evil as his brothers, War and Famine, he would be ecstatic. He was the youngest from the brothers, and he acted like it. He had rectangle glasses that framed his bright brown eyes; his brown hair was always dirty and sloppy and almost always in his face. His face was round and baby like, it also had dirt scattered across it. He was lanky and tall, which was a weird combination with his face. He looked like a teenager hitting puberty. His nose was small and he was always sniffling and blowing it, causing it to be a little red at the tip. Many spirits and Guardians have not met him, fear often coursing through them because of his infamous 'part' during the Black Plague.

He often tried to defend himself against their accusations, claiming that he did not release the dangerous sickness. It was in prototype mode, and not ready to be sent out into the human world. It was too much for the mortals to handle; their technology not advanced enough for such a complicated disease. There were few who believed him, his brother Death being one of them. Death and Pestilence were close, often conversing and talking about how they are doing without their other two brothers, Famine and War, because they were often too violent to even hold a conversation without yelling or breaking something. Pestilence worked with Death, their jobs intertwining with each other. Death thanked him constantly for the company, because with his job often came solitude that he found unwelcoming.

For the other two brothers, Famine and War, much was unknown, the two often too violent to talk too. They didn't mind though, the hell they caused kept them enough company. Rumors about them flew around about how violent they were, and that they love to hear the suffering of children, the cries of widows at their husband's funerals, and the deranged moans of defeated men. Oh how the rumors rang so true.

Karma met with Famine a few times, but she wished she never did. Each time they met he bragged about how farmers and their families went hungry for days on end, and even winters, because of a few 'missed placed' bugs. He laughed about how families had to live on the streets and beg for money, because they invested in shams or got scammed by him. He talked non-end about how he destroyed lives and how he loved it. Karma felt guilty on how she had once done the same, but she knew she couldn't change the past.

War. War was the worst. He had slaughtered so many lives, he turned families against each other, he turned countries against each other, and he is the cause of so many deaths. He is evil in its purist form. He was a handsome man to most, and Karma was fooled by that once, but his look were part of his schemes. He charmed men and women to do his dirty work. He often spoke about how humans foolishly believed attractive people more than unattractive ones. He had dark blue eyes filled with evil schemes; his rich dark hair was smoothed into a professional style. His skin was a creamy white and was smooth to the touch, just like his lies. His 6-foot stature towered over most people and he charmed everyone with a devilish smile. Every time someone shook his hand at the end of a deal, it was almost like shaking the devils hand itself. He had a deep sultry voice that lured people in and kept them as he whispered lies and dirty things into their ears. He was a power crazy and lustful man. He wanted nothing more than see the earth crumble into his hands. He wanted to remake the earth in his own image. He wanted beautiful women surrounding him, praising him. And most of all, he wanted Karma in his clutches so he could come closer to achieving that. He had a fascination with her, and wanted her as his own. At one point he almost had her, but then Pitch took her away and defended her. He almost killed him, but then he heard the Guardians and let them have him. Karma hated War the most and wanted to destroy him, but she knew he was to powerful for her.

"Damn it…." Karma cursed. He would always be too powerful for her to handle. "DAMN IT!" She screamed at the writing. "I don't care if you are too powerful for me anymore War." She growled, her anger taking place of her sadness. "I am coming for you."

"Karma…" Jack whispered, knowing all too well of that anger. He reached out his hand to touch her softly. The other Guardians looked at her feeling sympathy for her.

"I will no longer hide from him." She said still looking at the writing. "I am done hiding." She started to stand up, holding onto Amala tightly.

"This is War we are talking about Karma." Tooth started. "You can't just go against him head-to-head! He'll… He'll…"

"He won't kill me." Karma said. "He needs me, he wants me." She turned around looking at them. "This took a turn for the worse. I no longer expect you guys to help me out any further." She looked down at Amala. "However, if you could do me a huge favor…" She started walking towards North. "Take care of her. She needs a new home until I can find Punita." North looked at her and took the small child in his arms.

They all looked at Karma as she walked towards the dead body they assumed was Amala's father. She cut down the ropes with her now claw like nails. Before the body could hit the ground she caught the man and held him close.

"His name was Amit, it means friend.." She said with a sad smile on her face. "And he really was that." She started to walk towards them and out the door behind them. "He was a kind and compassionate man, and would do anything for his family…" tears started to form in her eyes once more. "He was tortured because of me… So War could find me. He died so War didn't know where I was." She was crying again. She walked until she was in front of a small rock bed on the side of the house.

"This is where they would honor their Gods… Where I first heard him call out to me begging for his wife to be able to carry her own child." She spoke softly to the spirits that trailed quietly behind her. She laid him down gently and closed his eyes. She went inside for a few minutes while the others stood outside, not knowing what to do other than bow their heads in respect. She came out with a bowl and a rag with some soap.

"Men usually wash the bodies of the deceased, however women and girls are accepted if no man can do it." Karma said while kneeling down and damping the cloth with water and wiping away some of the dirt and blood on the body where there weren't gashes and things ripped out. "They had no other family." She spoke softly to the Guardians. "They only had each other. Amit was an orphan who ran on the streets looking for scrapes of food." They all listened politely and went to Karma's side and watched her clean up the body. "Punita was beaten by her alcoholic father and her mother was a prostitute, she ran away when she was 12 because her mother was going to force her on the streets with her to earn some extra money." She placed the cloth in the bucket and grabbed the soap bar and began to wash his body on what parts she could. "They met when he was 19 and she was 15. She was on the verge of death when he saved her and gave her what little food he had left. They stuck by each other since then and got married 10 years later." She was done washing his body and grabbed the wet cloth again to rinse away the soapsuds. "They got jobs and began working at a good life a few years before getting married though. They worked for a small house and they got it, then after they got married, they tried to have a baby." She was done rinsing the body and returned to the house.

The Guardians looked at the body now and it looked a lot better. Karma had washed away the blood and dirt that was on his skin and she had swatted away the flies and took the maggots out of him. She had taken out the eye that was hanging out however so that way she could close his eyelids. They heard light solemn steps and Karma had returned with a fresh pair of clothes, a dry towel, a brown bowl of what looked like rice, some incense sticks, and some flowers. She kneeled down again and began to take off his clothes carefully, dried his body, and put on the new ones.

"I heard his prayers a few years later and then a few times I heard hers, they were praying to a different God so I didn't bother." She continued while buttoning his shirt, her fingers shaking. "Then I heard his prayer to me. He begged me. He told me his life story and then told me hers. He mentioned the good they did and the bad. He was honest in his prayer and I admired him for that and continued to listen to him for the next few months as he continued praying to me." She smiled. "He said he knew I was real, that I was the reason why he was so happy, I had brought him Punita when he was on the verge of quitting and giving up on life before she came. I knew his story sounded familiar! I told myself. They had grown a lot, and they had changed for the better. I investigated on their life's and the people around them. They were off to a good start in their family, now all they needed was a child." She grabbed the wooden bowl full of rice and placed some of the rice in Amit's mouth. She then grabbed the incents that she had and placed them in jars that were already had some old incents. "They were good people…" She stood up and took off the red wrapping she had and placed it over Amit's body. "I loved them, and they loved me." She bent down and got a match that was hidden in the flowers and lit it with a red rock near the base of the rock bed. "They were the closest thing I had to a family…" she dropped the match on Amit's body and a small fire started. "The closest thing I can give him to a funeral is this. Amit, if you are watching, thank you and I love you." She waved her hand of the fire and it grew. "I know how fascinated you were with fire and I know how entranced you were by the way I could manipulate it." A small sad smile spread across her face. She then started spread the fire across his body elegantly. The fire soon began to dance up into the sky and shrunk back down as Karma began to sniffle and cry again.

"I promise to get Punita back!" She yelled to the sky. "I promise! I promise War will pay and I will no longer cower in his presence!" the fire began to burn softly and crackle quietly. "I promise to be brave, like you." She bent down and grabbed the flowers that were near the pit. She walked to the guardians and gave them each a flower and she heard Amala begin to stir, Sandman was about to put her to sleep once more before Karma stopped him.

"She needs to see her father off." She spoke and grabbed the girl out of North's Arms and gave him a flower. "Amala, sweety, wake up." Amala woke up and for a few seconds it seemed like she didn't remember a thing from what she saw earlier.

"Daddy?.." She looked up at Karma and asked. Karma looked at the fire and Amala flew out of her arms and towards the bed. " Daddy…" She began to wail and went to her knees. Karma came up from behind her and held her.

"The flowers I gave you guys, throw them in the fire please." The Guardians did what they were told as Karma gave Amala a flower as well, and Karma herself had one. The two threw their flowers into the small flame and watched as all the flowers burn away. Karma spoke loud and clear-

"Asatho Maa Sad Gamaya.

Thamaso Maa Jyothir Gamaya.

Mrithyur Maa Amritham Gamaya.

Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti."

"Your father was a good man." Karma spoke to Amala after a few moments of silence. "And I swear I am going to get your mother back, but in order to do that, you must go somewhere safe." Karma said.

"She can stay at ze workshop." North said. "Ze Yeti's will take care of her very well."

"My fairy's can help as well." Tooth added.

"And My Eggs." Bunnymund said.

"I may not have helpers, but I have my ice." Jack nodded. "I can build an Ice shield around the workshop for extra protection."

"Thank you so much…" Karma looked at them and gave a small nod.

"No problem." Bunnymund said.

"It isn't a big deal." Jack said and Tooth nodded.

"My home, iz your home." North placed his hand on Karma shoulder.

A small breeze blew past them and it seemed like Amit was there with her, supporting her as well. "I must get going soon." Karma looked up and saw the sun was going to be going down in a few hours. "I need to prepare for the challenge up ahead." She sighed. "Thank you all again, and if I make it out alive, I promise that I will do whatever needs to be done to be a Guardian." She smiled. "Hopefully, I can take him on alone."

"Alone?" Bunnymund said. "Mate, we are going with ya. We would have said tha' we were goin' ta stay with this little girl instead of our helpers." He smiled.

"War is not in jurisdiction though." Karma said. "Children are, not something this morbid."

"Children are going to become part of this though." Jack said. "If you get captured by War and he uses you, I don't think War cares about the difference between adults or children."

"He never has." Bunnymund added.

"I- I don't know what to say.." Karma looked at the ground, not wanting anyone else to get hurt, but what Jack said was true.

"Just say that we can help." Bunnymund answered.

"Okay…" Karma looked up at them. "Please help me get War so we can get Punita and perhaps give him a few bruises and broken bones as well." She whispered the last part, but meant it fully.

Everybody waited for the fire to die and placed more flowers on the stones after Karma collected what ashes she could. She placed them in a small vase she found from inside. She told Amala that they would spread the ashes when she retrieved the girl's mother, Amala did not protest. Karma and Amala went into the house one last time to retrieve what they could and came out with a small suitcase filled with clothes for Amala and her mother and photo albums. Karma then spotted something gold in the grass and picked it up, it was Amit's wedding ring. She sucked in a quick breath and held it close to her heart. She placed the ring with Amala and let her hold onto it.

When they were done getting what they want they went to the sleigh where the Guardians were waiting patiently, night had fallen and the stars and moon lit them up, they almost looked like angles. Karma smiled to herself, to her they were angles, pains in the butts, but angles.

The two girls walked onto the sleigh and sat down quietly. North gave a quite 'mush' to the magical reindeer and they were off to a slightly rocky start. Everyone was quite until a silent snore was heard; Amala was asleep after a long and terrible day.

"You all know, you could very well die on this quest…" Karma spoke quietly, but it was heard. "And I will try my very best to make sure it doesn't." she looked at all of them. "War can't gain my power in anyways, nor will he manipulate me into doing his work." She sighed. "I will die before that happens."

"Hopefully it won't end that way." Tooth spoke towards Karma. "Hopefully, we can be that game change and defeat War."

"We can't kill him you know." Karma spoke again. "There are to many people who believe in war, and it will always be that way."

"But we can sure as hell get back Punita and have to where he will never mess with ya again." Bunnymund spoke firmly.

"Haha, we could do that." The sleigh grew silent again. "If I get captured, please take care of them both." Karma spoke to them. "And tell Death and Pestilence immediately. They will need to know that I am captured, for they are the only ones who can locate where War's layer is. They will be able to keep me in the loop on what is going on outside and I will be able to keep in touch with you as well."

"Will they have to sneak in or something to be able to contact you?" Jack asked.

"No, War will let them see me. He likes torturing people like that." She spoke quietly. "Making them see how close they are to freedom, but not being able to access it." She sighed. "They wouldn't be able to get me out, even with him not there. He is one of the only beings besides Pitch who can manipulate fear and darkness and Death and Pestilence know how dangerous it can be and how it can make you evil or more evil. I would not have them take that chance to try and control darkness only for it to turn out bad in my favor." Karma sat in silence after that, the Guardians joining her as they let the reality of the dangerous mission sink in.

A few minuets later North and Karma discussed where to go and decided to go to the workshop guessing that Karma's home would be to great of a risk to go. After that silence was once again heard for most of the flight.

They arrived at the workshop and North grabbed Amala's sleeping form as Karma silently got out of the sleigh. "I can't stay here." Karma spoke up. "It would be too great of a risk for Amala, for all of you in general."

"Where will you go?" Tooth asked worried.

"With me." Bunnymund spoke.

"No I will n-"

"Don't tell me no, because you were about to say that you would stay by yourself." Bunnymund argued. "If War knew where you were, he would have came and got ya. Plus he probably wants you to come and find him." He said plainly.

"But-" Karma started but was cut off.

"Don't but me." Bunnymund stated. "You can come stay with me, my home just might surprise you and how much you would like it." He smiled. "You seem like you have a green thumb after all, I think you would have a great time."

"It sounds like you are inviting me out on a date." Karma yawned while stretching her arms. Bunnymund choked on his words and Karma giggled. "I guess a good night's sleep around flowers would seem nice after this hellish day. Let's go." She looked at Bunnymund with a smile that did not reach her eyes. Honestly she was too tired to argue with anybody right now, Bunnymund seemed to sense that and tapped his foot twice and they were off in a few seconds.

The two Guardians landed, well Karma fell face first, in a field of green grass and some colorful flowers. Karma stayed where she fell and rolled over when Bunnymund softly kicked her side.

"I am tired…" She sighed.

"Well my home is not to far, get up so we can head ova' there and get some well deserved rest." He talked smoothly, his voice comforting her.

"Let's sleep right here." She yawned widely, tears pricking her tired eyes.

"Okay." He said joining her on the ground a few inches away.

"Really?" Karma looked at him.

"Why not?" He chuckled.

"I don't know." She turned so she was facing Bunnymund. "But thank you."

"No problem." He said looking up. "I know how hard it can be to lose someone you love…" He whispered and closed his eyes, he heard the grass rustle a bit and then felt something lean on him and pull him close.

"I have heard stories…" She whispered. "I am sorry.. what I am feeling must be nothing compared to you…"

"The unexpected death of someone you love is nothing you can compare to anything, rather it be many, or just one." Bunnymund found himself bringing his arm around the smaller being. "It hurts no matter what…"

"Thank you Bunny…" Karma let out a deep breath. His breath hitched a little from the way she said his name.

"Hey Karma?" Bunnymund said after a few moments of silence.

"Yeah?" She breathed lightly her voice sounding on the verge of sleep.

"What did you say when you made that prayer?" He asked curiously.

"From untruth lead us to Truth.

From darkness lead us to Light.

From death lead us to Immortality.

Om Peace, Peace, Peace."

The way she said it made his eyelids feel heavy. Her voice was rhythmic and smooth, and it put him in a trance. After she was done saying the prayer he heard soft snores escape her mouth and soon he was off to dream land with gold dust slowly making it's way into his vision before he finally drifted off to slumber.

I am very sorry for not updating for the past, what, year and a half? I was just not inspired for a long while… This story is not on Hiatus, don't worry! I don't think I will be thanking everyone in the beginning of chapters anymore, but I will try my best to P.M. you guys! Also, my Karma blog on tumblr is gone… it turned into a personally blog.. xD

I will try to update more often though! School will no longer be in the way since I graduated in the beginning of June

I love you guys so much! Also I am thinking of re-writing a few chapter, so be on the look out for that as well.