I'm back! And I feel horrible that I've kept you waiting this long. This story tends to agree with me for some of the time and disagree with me the other ninety some odd percent. Again, writers block killed me. I had a hard time figuring out exactly what I wanted to write, trying to put my ideas into words made it even harder. Plus, the person I usually bounce ideas off of was extremely busy these last few months.

As I have promised, I am not giving up on this story! It's summer, so chapters should come more frequently (if writers block doesn't hang over my head anymore). Again, I am really sorry for the long wait on this chapter, I did my best to make it longer than usual to try and make up for it, so I hope you enjoy!

Please Read and Review! I love hearing from you all!

Chapter 12: What keeps you up at night

'Pitch's head came up eerily, a sinister smirk plastered on his face. To her horror his eyes were once again the golden color. His tone of voice was that of a mocker. "Yes my precious daughter?" He spit out the words like they were a venom. "Seems you are breaking our hold on him...we can't have that, now can we. In fact we can't let any of you interfering"

Pitch flicked his hand to the side a huge wave of sand surrounding the Guardians, Ombric and Mother Nature. "Sweet Dreams." And with those mocking words the dark grains engulfed the figures throwing them into the realm of nightmares.'

(With Bunny)

A thick fog covered as far as the eye could see. Bunny turned in a circle, his eyes searching the never ending haze. The thick moisture seemed to cloud his mind jumbling his thoughts together sending him into a state of confusion, where was he? And more importantly, who was he? Green eyes squinted once again before widening as something moved within the never ending blanket of fog. Cautiously Bunny began to move forward. Placing one furry foot in front of the other. After a moment he stopped after feeling his foot brush against something. With a sudden gust of wind Bunny snapped his eyes shut.

"Get it together ya gumby, it was just the bloody wind." Shaking his head once he opened his eyes and immediately he regretted his decision.

Pooka after pooka lined the shores of the otherwise desolate Australian beach. Each still, decorated with wounds, void of any life.

Scanning over all of his fallen comrades, Bunny's attention was caught by a brightly colored clothed pooka and his heart dropped. Stumbling over his feet he managed to get over to the Pooka's side.

He nearly choked on his words. "Celeste." He reached his paw out to touch her but stopped himself and turned away with tears in his eyes.

With a distraught sniff, he looked around, his eyes taking in the bodies of his fellow friends and family, some which he knew by name, and others he did not. Bunny clenched his fist. "I'm the last one. There's no one left."

Dejected he stood in silence for what seemed like hours. With this silence brought remorse incomparable to many. Doubt and regret filled thoughts flooded his mind, bringing the mighty pooka to his knees.

Eyes shutting tightly, the thoughts continued to swirl around in his brain before he opened his eyes once again, tears pooled in them. In Bunny's blurred vision there was a dot of color. Confused Bunny opened his eyes, blinking back tears to see more clearly.

In the midst of the grainy sands before him lay a simple budding flower. Words that he had said a time before came to the forefront of his mind. "New life brings new beginnings. With this we can have hope."

Looking up at the sky a hopeful smile washed over his features as his eyes found the rising moon. "I am the Easter Bunny. The children need me. I'm not gonna let them, or you, down mate."

(With Tooth)

Monkey men... That's all Toothiana could see. But they were behind bars. Her eyebrows furrowed in concentration. No, that wasn't right. She was the one in a cage. The monkeys were surrounding her.

A cruel rumble echoed through the sounds of the monkeys, "I've caught you again little bird."

A shiver went up Tooth's spine at the voice. She knew that voice. She wished she didn't, but she knew she did.

Through the crowd of hairy creatures a much larger and more humanoid, monkey emerged, the others parting, making way for their leader. He continued forward only stopping once he reached the cage that held the Fairy Queen.

Her eyes narrowed, trying to hide the fear in them as she now faced the murderer of her parents. "You."

He sneered answering with a mocking tone "Yes, who else is cunning enough to catch you. But this time is different. This time you won't be lucky enough to escape me." He motioned to one of his minions with a wave of his hand before turning his attention back to Tooth, his yellow eyes boring into her light purple.

The two continued this silent stare down until the designated monkey returned holding a black box. Quickly it went to its masters side offering the box to him. The Monkey King broke eye contact first, grinning as he accepted the black box.

Tooth looked over at the box as well her feathers ruffling in confusion.

The Monkey King opened the box smirking as he pulled out a smaller jeweled box. "Quite the memento."

The guardian of memories gasped placing her hand over her heart with worry, whispering to herself. "My memory box.."

"An interesting thing memories." He kept the memory box firm in his hand as he walked slowly around the cage. "They can bring joy and hope to the forefront of the mind." With a click he opened the box. "Or fear and despair." He glanced over at her with a sneer as his hairy hand reached in.

Tooth's eyes widened. "No. Please, don't."

The Monkey King ignored her plea. Bringing a fisted hand out of the box he opened, purposefully revealing the small yet perfect teeth in his palm to his feathered prisoner.

He gave her no time to react or beg further. With a swift clenching of his fist he crushed the memory holders in his grip.

There was no agony, just emptiness. Tooth desperately tried to find the memories, searched for them. Moments from her childhood, her mothers smile, her fathers laugh, little moments that had kept her going.

She couldn't remember.

Tooth looked at her captor with a shocked expression. The only thing she could remember about her parents was the two of them. Sacrificing themselves for her. Dying for her.

The Monkey King opened his fist letting the teeth that were now nothing but dust fall to the ground. Quickly she closed her eyes so she wouldn't have to look at the one responsible.

"I enjoy seeing you this way, you look so lost little bird." He laughed with devilish glee. "I've taken away who you are."

The Fairy Queens eyelashes held droplets of unshed tears but with defiance she opened her eyes slowly glaring at the monster before her. "You're wrong!" She stood inside the cage gripping the bars. "The pain of what you did to them pushed me forward. It made me who I am, gave me the desire to save children from monsters like you!"

(With Sandy)

Darkness slowly enveloped the Dream Givers being.

Not again, please don't let this be happening again, Sandy looked down at the black grainy substance that snaked around his round figure, threatening to make him disappear to nothing once more, just like the events of earlier that year.

He tried desperately to think positively, doing anything he could with thoughts to keep the darkness at bay.

It felt like hours, every second draining him further. The more he fought the harder it became to keep fear and despair from slipping in.

"Just resign yourself little man. There is nothing you can do to escape your fate." Pitch said tauntingly towards the slowly fading golden figure. "Do you hear that Sanderson?"

Sandy's face fell as he heard screams of children he had worked so hard to protect.

"You have failed them," Pitch mocked.

Sandy sighed and was about to give in when he remembered Jamie, that wonderful brave boy with his big gap toothed grin. Jamie fought for the guardians, now it is my turn to fight for him, Sandy thought and he took a deep calming breath no longer worried or afraid of the past. Now he was looking toward the bright future of the marvelous children of the world.

The darkness faded from around him revealing the stars that once had guided him around the universe. As he looked around he saw Fearlings surrounding Pitchiner as he once was before the dark age.

Pitch looked up with fear in his green eyes as the Fearlings attacked and mouthed "Help me." Sandy reached out his hand to Pitch, just before he could touch him everything began fading quickly.

...

The Man in the Moon's voice rang out to all the Guardians in their slumber. "Do not forget your purpose. The children need you and the The General does as well, even more so." With these words ringing within their subconscious the Guardians awoke with a start.

...

R&R