A/n: I am so sorry, I don't even know what to say. I wrote the next few chapters and realized they were horrible, so I deleted them and started over and absolutely nothing went right! I have slowly been working on this story and juggling work, and lately work has calmed down so I had enough time to at least fix this chapter so you guys can read it. I'll be working on more, I promise! I'm sorry it's so short, but I was finally happy with it….

Also, this update is dedicated to RoseShaow1917

Because nothing says "Get your ass in gear!" like heartfelt peptalk from a sweetheart you don't know very well. I mean that in the sweetest way possible, I'm just socially awkward...

.:26:.

Sophie couldn't go back to bed after that ordeal. Her heart was pounding with worry, and she paced in front of her bedroom window. She knotted her fist in the frosted blue hoodie as she gazed down at the icy street below. No movement. Not so much as a passing car. She griped at herself to go to bed, sleep deprivation wasn't going to help Jack at all. But despite her common sense, she found she simply could not crawl into bed and pretend everything was fine. Everything was far from fine, and she felt like maybe if the stakes weren't so high she could have cried.

Jack snarled at himself in distaste and swiped his staff against a snowdrift, sending a shower of white cascading across the darkened landscape. Everything was so cold and frozen. So dead. It had never bothered him before, it had always felt like home. Now it felt like a prison, like a constant reminder of the fate he had so happily accepted. He found himself forced to admit that he was not human anymore. It had been a long time since he was human, and that time had passed, and here he was. Jack Frost, Prince of Winter. Forever, trapped in this form. He could never have a life, and he could never have a family. He was simply the Guardian of Fun now, and that's what he would be until the day that he vanished.

Tooth trembled as she approached the hole. Given any other choice, she would be home at her palace, with her tiny fairies, performing her Guardian duties. She would have loved to be anywhere but here. A tremor of terror ran up her spine, and she balled her tiny hands into fists in determination. She had a good reason to be here, and she wasn't going home until she did what she could to help her friends.

She stepped forward and let gravity pull her down into the Earth. A small sound of fear escaped her lips before she steeled herself, and she was suddenly glad her mini-fairies hadn't been here to witness it. A sudden bit of light reached her eyes and she stopped her descent to float gracefully just inside the entrance to the Nightmare King's lair. She inhaled sharply, the scent of musk and mildew stinging her nose. Had Jack not rambled on and on about this place, she might not have been able to find it. Even so, she suspected Pitch would have been smart enough to find a new base of operations after Jack stumbled across it.

"You dare?" Pitch's voice drawled at her from the darkness, and Tooth shivered once more.

She ruffled her feathers, put on her game face, and reminded herself of all the reasons she had to hate this man.

"Yes. I dare." Toothiana said mockingly. She could all but see Pitch bristle at her comment.

The shadows around her shifted, moving behind her, forcing the dim lighting into her face to keep her eyes adjusted to the brightness. She squinted, even in the dim glare off the wet rocks around her. She held a hand up to block the irritatingly small amount of light.

"Pitch. I want to talk to you." She said boldly. To emphasize her statement, she moved forward several feet, floating just inside his sanctuary.

"Pity. I'm not in the mood to talk." He said abruptly, and shadows flickered around Tooth.

She stood her ground and straightened her back. Clearing her throat softly, she organized her thoughts. This was getting through to him one way or another.

"I saw your memories." She stated. Pitch seemed surprised for a moment, then the shadowy grasp around her loosened and the dim light got a tiny bit brighter.

"Oh did you?" He almost sounded curious, and Tooth moved forward further.

"Yes. I saw everything. You don't have to hide from me, Pitch." Her voice rang out along the broken columns and walkways. The shadows seemed to tighten, and she set her feet down and walked forward.

"I saw what you did. I saw what happened with Jamie. I understand." She was gaining more confidence the further she went, but she knew better than to let her guard down.

"Oh, do you?" Pitch's voice was like hot sap, and she cringed internally at the sound.

Tooth swallowed hard and closed her eyes for a moment. Regaining herself, she looked around and still saw so physical sign of the Nightmare King.

"He was scared. He met a girl. No one else believed in us, and he was terrified of what people might think if they found out he still believed. No matter what you say, you do care about Jack. The two of you have a connection, and I think of all the immortals, no one understands each other better than you and Jack. You felt bad for him, so you helped someone he cared about in the only way you could; by scaring him straight. You gave Jamie the future he wanted, one that Jack could never give him." When she finished she held her breath, afraid of how Pitch might take this confession.

"You think you're such a clever little songbird, don't you?" Tooth gasped as Pitch gripped her chin and hissed in her ear.

"Got everything all figured out. Pitch is a good guy, he used his powers to help people!" Pitch said in a mock-happy tone.

"Well you can go choke on it. The Nightmare King doesn't play pity-party with Jack Frost." Venom dripped from his voice, and Tooth fought back a shiver as he raked his fingernails along her jaw.

"Don't lie to me, Pitch. I saw your memories. I know what you tried to do. And I know why." Tooth said bravely.

Pitch violently released her jaw, sending her reeling for a moment as she regained her composure.

"Why would I ever do anything to help Jack?" He asked bitterly. He loomed before her, his shadow reaching clear across the cavern. She was dwarfed in it, but she stood up straight and gave him her most determined face.

"Because you're lonely. You want to know who you are and what purpose you might serve. When Jack became a Guardian it made you wonder if maybe someday you could be a Guardian too. No matter how many times you deny it, I'll always know the truth. You want to be accepted the way we are. Not as a myth; but as a real, living legend. You want a friend, whether or not you can admit it, I know you want a friend." Tooth was proud of the determination and surety she managed to pour into her statement. And to her surprise, Pitch turned away from her.

"Get out. Your ideals disgust me, just get out." He hissed hatefully at her, and Tooth stared at him in shock for a moment before her limbs began to move of their own accord.

She tore from his lair as fast as she could, heading back to her palace. She smiled grimly to herself, her mission was accomplished, it was up to Pitch to do the rest.