Apologies for the long wait. Thanks so much for all of your well wishes, even if I didn't reply to them I got them and they mean a lot to me, they got me through some tough times. It's been an eventful year, filled with extra hours to save up for an apartment and then moving into said apartment, as well as getting promoted at work and moving to working night shifts and I just got hired for a second job which i will eventually transition to fully so I don't have to work until 4-6 am lol
Also, I have a tumblr set up specifically for my fanfic now, url being stargatenerd, where I scream about writing and fandoms and will also post replies to the anon reviews from now on since they artificially inflate the word count here on FFN. I would appreciate if y'all would stop by since part of the reason I've had such trouble writing is because I isolated myself when I work best bouncing ideas off of people and discussing them with people who have a vested interest in what I'm writing.
Now, on to the main event!
Chapter 14
Toothiana is not a shut-in, no matter what Nicholas or anyone else may insinuate, jokingly or not, thank you very much.
No one barring the Sandman knows how much work is involved in her duty, collecting teeth and memories night after night after night after night after night. Nicholas and Aster (who prefers Bunnymund) have a whole entire year to prepare for their respective holidays while she has a very limited time each night to collect the teeth of children before dawn.
Any jokes about having a small army of herself aside, her helpers are absolutely necessary in getting her work done, and that they are so useful makes it much easier for her to direct them from her home. Nicholas may have joked once about her being "flighty", but she would like to see him maintain a mental connection with several million other beings and keep a conversation going at the same time. It is not easy.
It helps that each one is essentially a part of herself, but in the century or so since she has taken up the role of the Tooth Fairy, they have developed their own senses of identity and self. Toothiana is proud, though that does make the connection somewhat deafening at times.
Even though she is not a full Sister of Flight, she is still part Fae, and as such is more sensitive to the magic of the world than others. So when Nicholas calls a meeting she knows that it isn't to catch up or gossip, but that something is wrong. It isn't Pitch though, she knows that much when Aster raises the question - problems caused by him have a much darker feel to it, cloaked in shadow and forever recoiling from the sun.
No, what she feels, and what her helpers feel, is more empty, almost hungry.
When Nicholas suggests asking for the Bogeyman's advice regarding the lakes' disappearance and the sudden storms Toothiana is wary but has to admit it is a good idea, considering how old Pitch is. Plus it is about time she got out a little - Punjam Hy Loo is a beautiful place but it has been decades, over half a century since she has gone out in the world herself.
She leaves a couple of her helpers at the North Pole to coordinate with Nicholas while she informs the rest out doing their duty to keep their eyes out for the Nightmare King, but not to engage him if they do encounter him - her helpers are good at collecting teeth but not so much at talking to people who are not her. No, they are to inform her of their location and she will come straight away. Meanwhile, Toothiana goes on the Guardians' behalf to look for the one other person besides Pitch who may be able to offer information regarding what is happening to the lakes and with the oceans.
It is not an easy thing, to find Mother Nature. Yes, she is everywhere around them, but in that case it is often like missing the forest for the trees. However in the same way that Toothiana is able to sense that their current problem is not being caused by Pitch, she can feel the presence of Mother Nature herself - majesty and sorrow and vast power tempered by kindness and compassion.
Mother Nature's Empire, a densely wooded place where the trees and all else are under the direct command of Nature herself, has changed location from the last time Toothiana visited her in the central rainforests of Africa. It would take days, at least, for anyone else to find it, but Toothiana's consciousness is stretched across the world in hundreds of directions on a day to day basis. Using the link between her and her helpers, she's able to narrow down her search to the northwest of the American continent.
Two and a half hours of so of flying later she comes across a thick forest that almost glows with magic. It surrounds her as she touches down between the trees just beyond a small cabin. The entire place feels alive in a way that not many places do anymore with "modern" humans colonizing places that had previously been undisturbed.
The cabin door opens and a tall pale woman with long black hair and high cheekbones emerges. "Toothiana," she acknowledges her presence.
"Seraphina," the Tooth Fairy replies, not standing on ceremony but still bowing her head.
"You rarely get out with your duties as a Guardian. This must be important."
"Yes, it is."
"Don't dally then. Come in." Seraphina opens the door wide to allow Toothiana to flit through. "I'm surprised Nicholas did not come. Or Sanderson," Seraphina admits.
"Nicholas is busy, and Sandy and Aster are off looking for Pitch," Toothiana says, bracing herself for the Nature Queen's reaction.
Which is just the raising of one impeccable eyebrow. "Oh?" is Seraphina's cool reply. "And what has Pitch Black done now?"
Emboldened by the lack of angry dramatics in her response (in that, she is most definitely her father's child), Toothiana continues. "Nothing at the moment. It is only information we're seeking. It's why I'm here, while the others look for Pitch."
Seraphina's brow furrows. "Information? On what?"
"The water has been acting… strangely. Lakes drying up, ships gone missing, unexpected storms causing devastation. Perhaps one of your spirits?"
"No, none of mine would dare," Seraphina denies with a shake of her head that sends a dark wave of her hair cascading across her face before she tucks it back. "Although…" She looks at Toothiana, slight worry in her eyes. "There is a chance that Pitch may be involved."
"What?" Toothiana is surprised that Seraphina would say such a thing when she strives to be very much neutral where her father is concerned.
"One of my winter spirits, a Jack Frost, has struck up a friendship with him. I have let it be since I thought it would be good, for both of them. It seemed to be good for them both," she admits. "Jack is very friendly, but she can not interact with humans and it saddens her."
"She?" Tooth wonders at the incongruity of the name.
Seraphina shrugs. "Your Moon named her."
"But she is one of your's?"
"Yes. She has been… a good influence, I think, for him. Jack is a winter spirit so I hesitate to assign blame to her but my father could have had an impact on her abilities. I doubt it, but the possibility is there."
"Thank you," Toothiana says, clasping her hands around Seraphina's. "I know the subject of him is… difficult."
"I have had centuries to get used to this," Seraphina replies. "He has not been my father in a long time."
"That doesn't stop you from caring," Toothiana says kindly. "Missing your parents is natural, no matter what has become of them."
Seraphina lets a small smile tug at the corner of her mouth. "You always know what to say." She raises delicate feathery hands up and presses a kiss to them. "I'll look into this. Make sure Bunnymund doesn't get too riled up over this?"
"I'll try to minimize the damage," Toothiana promises with a giggle.
"Thank you," Seraphina says with a smile that tastes of starlight.
Oops, I femslashed ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Seriously tho, I ship Seraphina/Tooth like, a lot. Also her name is Seraphina bc that's the name I adopted as my headcanon for her before we found out it was Emily Jane like seriously your dad's name is Kozmotis why would you be named Emily Jane? Anyway, we're not quite getting back to Jack and the others yet, but this was necessary. Gayer than I originally planned, but necessary :)