Aggie stepped back into the room, earning a shriek from Tooth and somewhat undignified yelps from Bunny and North. Sandy simply jumped a bit and formed a question mark in the sand over his head.

And in the next moment everyone froze.

"Where did you come from?" North demanded.

"I… I just…" Aggie turned to gesture at the doorway - but it was… gone? "Nevermind." She said. "We are leaving anyway."

"Leaving?" Tooth asked. "How? There are no doors! I don't even know how we got here!"

"I'm not entirely sure about that either." Aggie said. "But we are not welcome here. I think I can get us out, but I don't know where we'll end up. Can you trust me?"

The Guardians exchanged looks.

"Honestly, Aggie," Tooth said. "I don't think we have any other choice."

"Alright then," Aggie said. "Somebody carry Jack. I'm not sure how this works just yet, and I don't want him getting left behind."

At that Bunny, who was closest to the resting winter spirit, scooped Jack into his arms without delay. "Now what?"

"Now…" Aggie drew in a breath. "Now I pray to all gods I know at least half of what I'm doing."

Aggie closed her eyes and reached into the knot of darkness writhing in her core.

Hey, she said. Wanna go for a ride?

High pitched shrieks of delight stung her ears, and she knew no one else could hear them. They were all staring at her expectantly, and she was staring back… but her eyes were still closed.

She could see, though. She could see in every direction at once. She could taste every scent in the room. She could feel how the very air touched her softly, gently, as if worried it might break her if it pressed too hard.

And then she was moving - moving through an endless swirl of red and cries of pain that were somehow also cries of delight. She was spiraling into a void of pure hate and greed and sorrow and… evil.

But before she knew it Aggie was back on her feet, standing in the middle of a forest. The Guardians were around her, their eyes wide in something far more than disorientation.

Aggie had a feeling that this time she had not witnessed the horrors alone.

She avoided their gazes by calling on the wind and floating above the treetops in hopes of finding where they were.

The trees didn't go on for much farther before they hit rows of two-story houses and playgrounds and coffee stands.

Drifting closer, Aggie noted the children running up and down the street, many unsupervised, but all playing fairly despite. This neighborhood was beyond safe - perhaps she had more control over their location than she had thought.

Returning to the Guardians, she found them hovering around Jack, who was starting to wake.

Aggie hung back, leaving the wayward family to their personal space.

Jack opened his eyes to find the other Guardians crowded around him, eyes all searching him hopefully, faces a little too close for his liking, however much he loved their presence.

"Hey…" He managed. "What's up… guys…?"

"Jack!" Tooth was the first to speak - also the first to crush him in a hug, though the others joined in not a second later.

"Ah!" Jack cried. "Ah! Get off! It hurts!"

"Oh my gosh Jack I'm so sorry!" Tooth pulled back as quickly as the others and cupped his face worriedly. "We were just so scared!"

"You really got yourself hurt, mate." Bunny said.

"You could have died!" North said. "Jack, don't ever do that to us again!"

"Uh… I'll do my best not to die?" Jack tried.

Surprisingly, that seemed to satisfy the Guardians for the most part.

A sharp, delibrite cough cut into the conversation.

Everyone looked to Aggie, who stood back from them, hands twitching nervously at her sides. "I hate to break up the family reunion, but this isn't over. I did what could be done, but Jack still needs rest. And the middle of a residential thicket isn't exactly the prime place for that."

The Guardians glanced among themselves, until eventually all eyes settled on Sandy. The little man stood for a moment, then, suddenly realizing they wanted him to be the final answer, nodded in agreement with Aggie.

"Alright then." Aggie said. "Bunnymund, I suppose transportation is up to you now."

Again glances were exchanged, and after a seeming silent agreement, North stepped forward and offered his hand.

"I'd like to thank you, Aggie." He said.

Aggie shook the hand, confused. "Not that I don't love thanks, of course, but whatever for?"

"For helping Jack." North said. "I don't know the whole story yet, but from what I do know Jack owes you his life. And in that we all owe you."

"Please," Aggie smothered a blush. "You owe me nothing."

"I insist." North said. "If you ever need something - anything - you come to one of us."

Aggie could tell he wasn't going to leave unless she accepted. "I will," She said. "Thank you."