"What's happenin' mate?" Bunnymund asked, his signature boomerangs sweeping harmlessly through the black dragon in front of us. The others fells back, faces drawn with effort and confusion.

"He's too powerful." Pitch said quietly from behind me as the red-eyed gaze of Fear came to rest upon us. A heavy roar exploded from his jaws, his talons tearing through the wood beneath him. His tail swished angrily as he swung it around towards us, the arrowhead at the end sharpened to a deadly point.

North attempted to slash at the tail as it passed by, only to stumble as his blades passed through nothing.

"Why can't we touch him?" Tooth cried anxiously, flitting to avoid the thrashing tail.

Fear paused and laughed, turning to look at the colorful fairy. The corners of his reptilian mouth curled into a smile.

"Have you looked at your preciousss globe, recently?" His voice echoed eerily around the room as the Guardians, apprehension in their eyes, looked upon the golden globe beside Fear.

"No!..." North shouted, his voice dying away quickly. The globe had fallen still. Darkness. Not a single light shone on the polished brass surface. Not a single child believed in the Guardians any longer. The children had lost their faith. And with their faith, they had taken the Guardian's last chance to prevent their fading.

Laughter echoed around the room. Evil, overjoyed. Fear's plan had succeeded. He had won.

No...no! I cannot let this happen. I am the sun! I am day. It is up to me to restore their faith. For the Guardians. For Pitch.

Using all of my strength, I focused on bringing the day, the gentle rays of sunshine that would awaken the lost belief in the children. A soft, feeble light began to shine on the horizon, and Fear bellowed in anger.

"No! How do you ssstill have power?!"

I had no answer. I had no strength to answer. All of my energy was focused on bringing the sun above the darkened mountaintops.

Sandy appeared beside me, waving his arms in warning.

"The lights!" Jack called joyously, as slowly, carefully, the lights began to reappear on the abandoned globe.

"NO!" Fear recoiled as his power was sucked away, roaring and writhing.

Sandy jumped in front of me, waving his arms frantically. He was not happy. No, he was warning me. His sand speech was blurred, I could not make out what he was saying. My vision hazed, the effort draining every ounce of my energy.

I felt strong arms grab hold of my shoulders, pulling me back and shaking me roughly. Sandy melted and swirled in my vision, his movements quick and hasty. Black began to creep into the corners of my eyes, staining the faces of the worried Guardians around me. No sound reached my ears aside from soft whispers of comfort.

"Dawn. Dawn. You're going to be okay. Dawn, stay with us. Dawn..."

The world around me faded to black as I slowly slipped out of consciousness.

The clouds were painted golden yellow, red undertones fading to white. My body felt light, weightless, as I stood upon the strangely sturdy vapor below me. The golden glow stretched forever, not a single break in the gentle light.

I could not fathom where I was, and yet no sense of panic gripped my mind. I felt oddly at ease; a soft, quiet breeze stirring my hair. Rays of sunlight kissed my skin, warming my soul.

A faint blue glow emanated from above me, and as I looked up, I could see the Moon. He was a giant, covering the sky above me. His presence was soothing, calming. The Moon's words began as a whisper against my ear.

"Dawn. Do you know why you are here?"

I was speechless. I had no voice in this ethereal plane. I shook my head slowly, a slight twinge of worry bubbling up inside of me.

"Your powers are strong, and your task vital to keeping belief alive in the children. But your power has limits. You draw your energy from your very essence, your very soul." A small hole in the clouds opened up before me, darkness pouring up into the golden light. I peered down to see Sandy holding my hands, my pendant clasped in our fingers. My limp body rested against Pitch as he cradled my head, his expression wracked with sorrow. North kneeled beside Sandy, clinging tightly to his swords, his knuckles white. Tooth had settled into the floor nearby, tears streaming down her face. Jack and Bunnymund were nowhere to be found.

"You destroyed yourself. Your very soul was consumed by your power."

I gasped, clasping a hand over my mouth. A sob escaped me as I sank to my knees, staring down at my body below.

In my attempt to protect the Guardians, I had diminished my own soul.

I was gone.