So I've been slack. Apologies. I'll try to work on this fic at least a little bit every day if I can.

On a side note, I've had to factory reset my laptop (it had problems) - but don't worry! I backed up my list of requests :3 (I did not, however, back up the word-for-word emails of said requests because I am a forgetful loon, so if you get a PM from me to discuss a request, that's why)

(Also I haven't been able to reinstall Microsoft Office yet, so this was written on WordPad (hence any spelling errors - there is no spellcheck (or formatting) on WordPad, but I did use my browser's spellcheck when I uploaded it so there's that at least)

Enough rambling, though! Sheitan Otori, here is your LONG awaited request (I am so sorry)

Disclaimed

EDIT: SORRY! I forgot to mention that this one takes place shortly after Retaliation

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Warnings

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"He did what?"

The Sandman winced at Mother Nature's calm tone. Her expression and posture, much like her voice, appeared completely at ease, as if the information he'd just dumped on her was a mere trifling matter. But Sandy had known Seraphina for many, many centuries. He could see in the way her shoulders tensed, the way her hands clenched into fists, and the steadily burning fire in her eyes that she was far from calm.

She was practically seething.

Sandy really wished there was a subtle way of saying 'don't shoot the messenger'. Against his better judgement, he nodded, confirming she had interpreted his symbols correctly.

Seraphina pursed her lips. He would have thought her only mildly irritated if it hadn't been for the fact that he knew her as well as he did. This was probably not going to end well.

"Thank you for alerting me, Sanderson," she said distractedly. "I will see to it that something like this does not happen again."

Sandy nodded again, more hesitantly than before. He quickly conveyed via means of dreamsand the civil population of Burgess.

"You need not worry," Seraphina waved him off. "My business is with Pitch Black, and him alone."

Sandy took his cue to leave. He couldn't help but think of the last time she'd said something similar. That had been a bad day for Atlantis. Perhaps he would keep a close eye on Burgess tonight.

...

...

"I'll kill him," Lleu said darkly. He rolled up imaginary sleeves, "Just point me in the right direction and I'll do it. Don't even try to stop me."

"That will not be necessary," Seraphina raised a brow. She couldn't remember the last time her summer seasonal had gotten so worked up. It would seem the others were in agreement - another unusual sight - if their expressions were anything to go by. She had the distinct feeling that, rather than stopping him, they would have gladly aided Lleu in his murderous endeavour.

"You can't honestly expect us to let this go," May frowned, her tone firm but not loud.

"You can if you want," Lleu countered, "but like hell I will. He attacked him. He would've let him die!"

"You know as well as I that something as trivial as heat will not kill Jack," Seraphina replied sternly.

"Why are you taking his side?!"

"I say we march on down there and show that frictum cicerem exactly what happens when he messes with one of us!" Ceres declared.

Seraphina tried very hard not to be amused by the fact that her oldest seasonal had just called her father a 'roasted chickpea'. This was why she had wanted to avoid telling them at all. They, especially Ceres, who was from a time when war and defending one's honour and the honour of one's friends and family, were far too quick to jump to a violent retribution. Even Lleu, who was for the most part laid-back, was easy to rile up in such a situation, and it had not escaped Seraphina's notice how close he had become with his winter counterpart.

She wasn't sure how they'd even found out (and subsequently come to interrogate her), but she figured she'd better nip things in the bud, so to speak. It wasn't that they were incapable of standing up to Pitch Black (they truly were a force to be reckoned with when they wanted to be), nor that she was taking her father's side, it was merely that their actions had the potential to escalate into something worse, especially if Pitch did not take them seriously (which he likely wouldn't).

"As I said before," she cut in, before the three's war plans could get any further, "that will not be necessary."

The three turned to her with murderous expressions (well, mildly murderous on May's part - she was far too obedient and held too much respect for Mother Nature to speak her mind plainly).

"That does not mean I will sit by and allow him to get away with this," she continued, stopping any protests before they could begin. "He has harmed Jack, and thus he has earned my fury. I will see to this matter myself."

...

...

The lair of Pitch Black was as cold and desolate as always. Had she expected he'd hire an interior decorator by now? No, not really. Cold and desolate suited him rather well.

As she had expected, her intrusion was not left ignored, a swarm of Nightmares running up to block her path. It seems he has regained some semblance of control, then, she mused. But something as trivial as animated sand was hardly a match for her.

With a flippant wave of her hand, Seraphina sent a gale-force wind surging through the cavern, tearing the grains straight from the Nightmares' bodies and scattering them in a hellish mockery of a dust storm.

"Show yourself, Pitch Black," her voice echoed. "I have not the time nor patience for your games."

"It's unlike you to pay a visit to poor 'daddy-dearest', Emily Jane," Pitch mocked, his thin body oozing out of the shadows.

"Mother Nature or Seraphina, but don't you dare call me by that name," she seethed.

"What brings you to my humble abode?" he sneered, completely ignoring her anger.

"It has come to my attention that you have malicious intents towards one of my charges," she said tersely, stepping forward and halving the distance between them. "And so I come with a warning."

Pitch seemed to smile at the accusation. His whole demeanour as he waved for her to continue reeked of smugness.

He was still taller than her, she realised as she invaded his personal space. It grated on her already irritated nerves. "Repeat an incident like this again and maybe you'll find you no longer have a hole to scurry back to." Her words were no more than a whisper, almost inaudible against the backdrop of shaking earth and stone. Dust fell from the ceiling, threatening a cave-in. "And then where will you hide when my children come looking for you?"

Pitch appeared completely nonchalant at her threat, but she could see a glimmer of fear in his eyes. It was no secret that he was wary of her. Seraphina usually remained a neutral party in any conflicts not directly concerning her, but when she did join the fight... well, you'd better hope you weren't on the opposing side. And Jack Frost was very much her concern.

"Duly noted," Pitch replied carelessly. He turned and began leisurely strolling away. "Now, if that was all I must ask that you leave."

"Do not test me, Pitch Black," Seraphina warned, but she left all the same. To accentuate her words she made a point of collapsing the tunnel on her way out.

Perhaps she'd let him off too easy - he'd never been one to heed warnings, after all - but she remembered Sanderson's point about the town so close by. If she were to give him the retribution he deserved they would likely also suffer for it. If nothing else, Jack would be displeased. Maybe she would subtly give the other three permission to terrorise Pitch at their leisure; on a small-scale, of course. She couldn't allow them to get carried away, after all... too much, at least.

Guest Review Responses:

Me: (Arc:) Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz (MP:) Oh noes! Be sure to get enough sleep D: (But I'm glad you liked it XD)

toolazyforlogins: (Arc:) I would like to see that. I really would (MP:) I WANT TO SEE IT XD Haha

NorthernMage: (Arc:) I had the same issue actually. Weird... Sweet, I loved that chapter. Make sure you keep a dream catcher in handy. Oh, and a cell phone with camera~! ;P (MP:) FFN is weird. Very weird. I think it was :P Fun chapter to write (I am such a sadist but so you are so meeeeh XD) Haha he's sure as hell not gonna be pleased XD