Dark woke up to see Bunny standing over her, his arms crossed and back straight. Sandy was floating next to him, his head lolling on his golden shoulder as he snoozed softly.

"You know how long we've been waiting for you? You must have been bloody knackered to sleep for half the day?" He said when he saw she was awake.

"It's night time?" she asked, sitting up. She felt normal again, and her head was crystal clear. The light of the workshop around them was still far too bright, but then again, any light felt like that to her. She took a deap breath and smelt the dark outside of her. "Excellent."

Bunny shook his head, his great ears flapping. "Just don't try anything. North wants to talk to you."

She spun around until she was sitting normally, feinting coolness. "He's welcome to. I'm not going anywhere, not while your here."

Bunny didn't fall for the flattery. "That's what Jack said, but Sandy's still here. For all the good he does. Get up, Sandy, ya bogan."

He elbowed the Sandman awake, who jerked up in midair. His golden eyes floated to Dark and she gave him a cheery wave. A question mark appeared above his head, followed by a snowflake, a tooth and a present..

"Of course I've told the others, Sandy. Look, there they are now."

Dark looked over at North, Tooth and Jack as they approached. She itched to take off and fly out of there, but Sandy had his whip out, and she wasn't going to take anymore chances. Instead she shook her hair out of her face and crossed her legs. Looking guilty wouldn't fool them, she knew, they had to think they could break her.

"You're looking better," North cmmented as they neared.

"That's really not surprising," she replied, sitting up a bit straighter. "A dead rat could have looked better."

They looked as though they had no idea what to say to that. An elf produced a plate of half eaten cookies, and North took one, appearing not to notice the bite marks in it. "As I've said, I'm sorry aout that, but we really must know what Pitch is planning."

Dark shrugged. "To destroy Christmas, I'd say, judging on whatever the Leprechaun told you."

"You admit t stealing the Leprechaun's gold?" Bunny asked, his ears prickling.

"Of course. Though he was a bit of an old grump, I'll say that."

Jack shook his head. "Why did you do it? What does Pitch want."

"We did it for the gold..." Dark admitted after a pause. She scrunched her eyebrws slightly and stared at the floor, avoiding their gazes.

"What for?"

Dark didn't reply. She bit her lip, mind racing. It would have been easier if I actually knew the details of what Pitch was planning, she thought. Half truths are far more convincing than lies.

"You need to tell us, Darkness." Tooth flew down to hover next to her, putting an arm gently on Dark's. So that's hw she wants to play this...

Dark shook her off roughly and uncrossed her legs. "I don't know, alright?" she spat. "I rescued Pitch- I saved his life, and he tricked me into going along with what he wanted. He didn't tell me anything!"

North tilted his head, stroking his beard gently. "How do we know you're telling the truth?"

"Oh, I don't know, why don't you go and ask Pitch?"

"Where is he and maye we'll do that," Jack told her smirking.

"New Zealand, Frost. But he'll be gone long before you get there."

"Why New Zealand?" Bunny asked. "That's near where I have my eggs."

"I told you," Dark protested. "I don't know. Why Ireland? Why France? We've been moving ever since we left Burgess. It's probably to keep away from you guys."

North looked as though he were beginning to believe her, now she just needed to convince him of her intentions. "And it's just you and Pitch? You don't have anyone else?"

Dark sighed at the floor. "He could have someone else for all I know, but that's only why I rescued him. He was in the dark, I thought he was calling for me. I only wanted company."

She didn't risk taking a look up at their faces, but she could feel their expressions through the shadows on their features. They believed her. They actually believed her.

"There are better people to find company with than Pitch Black," Jack noted.

"Shut up, Frost," she hissed angrily. "He offered me belief. He said that all the children would believe in me if I helped him."

"You could have come to us."

She looked up at Jack. "Because so many people are in love with Jack Frost, aren't they? So many children believe in you-"

"Stop it," Tooth commanded angrily. "Darkness, we're trying to help you-"

"Good job you're doing to," Dark interrupted. "And my name's Dark."

Jack smirked. "She's right, Tooth. Helping her isn't locking her up-"

"Exactly," Dark interrupted.

Jack continued over her, "Darkness, you wanted to be believed in. I know some kids that can do just that. Come on, you don't need Pitch. If you help us, everyone will start believing in you. North, I'll take her to Jamie, it'll be fine."

Tooth looked unhappy. "I don't think that's such a good idea."

Dark agreed with her. Looking at Jack's face, she could tell that if she went with him, they'd be in the snow and he would be talking and she'd be surrounded by laughing kids. It would be horrible; he'd want to be having fun in the cold while she would have to pretend to e enjoying herself. Dark hated pretending to enjoy herself. But the only alternative was sticking in North's workshop with the Guardians.

"Me neither, mate," Bunny told North. "We can't put the kids at risk, we're hear to protect them."

"Born a wildlife warrior, die a wildlife warrior," Dark said sarcastically.

Bunny frowned at her. "You just quoted Steve Irwin."

"Crikey! Why would I do that?" She smiled innocently up at him and he scowled down at her, nose twitching.

Jack grinned as North turned to Sandy. "Sandy, what do you think?"

The Sandman looked from Jack to Dark before giving a shrug and holding his arms out in a 'why not?' gesture. Dark wasn't sure whether to be relieved or not. Some how she felt the Guardian of fun would manage to bore her.

North nodded. "Okay then. If you can manage her."

Dark felt her stomach remain in the chair as she got up plastering a grin on her face. "Mercy-buckets, North, Sandy. Thank you so much."

"Just don't disappoint."

Jack smiled at her and she felt a flutter of hope that maybe, just maybe he wouldn't be too infuriating.

"Come on," he said. "Let's have some fun."

PIPER

When Pitch came back he was alone. Piper eyed him warily as he rode past, the light of the fading moon glinting off the black sand of his Nightmare steed.

"I know what you're gong to ask," Pitch told him as he stood.

Piper didn't fail him. "Where's Dark?"

Pitch sighed. "We went to see the Guardians, and she... well."

"She left us?"

"Did I say that?"

Piper scowled up at him. "No, that's why I'm asking, obviously."

"The Guardians captured her," Pitch told him, ignoring the remark.

"And you left her there." They were nearing Uni's cave, and Piper slowed his pace, uneager to return within a hundred feet of that insane monster.

"They out numbered us."

"But that was what you went there for."

Pitch turned around. "She's here to be a distraction, and that's exactly what she's doing. If you have a problem with that, leave. Now. I dare you."

Piper shook his head and stopped walking, leaving Pitch to keep going. "I'm not leaving, but I'll give you a warning. That may have worked for Dark, but if you ever try that with me- I will destroy you."

Pitch didn't bother to look back at him as he rode on through the forest. "You can't kill fear, Piper."

He gave a blast of his pipe after Pitch, and the Nightmares legs buckled, jerking it's rider harshly. "I know that, Pitch Black. But I can kill you."

AN/ THE THOT PLICKENS! Anywho, you know what would be really lovely my deary? If you left a comment. I know some people like to vote and read, but a vote really is like a "Nice try", a read like a "Meh, it's passable". But a comment is like a... whatever the comment says. Feedack means twice as much as anything else. So please, please comment this time o-o