Author's note: BOOM HOW'S THAT FOR A QUICK UPDATE HUH? HUH? LOL I had fun with this one, can't believe I got it done so fast. I must've leveled up as an author or something! As usual, shout out to EndlessWolves, Seganumber1fan, and Silver Duck! Thanks so much for your support, guys!

How far could you possibly let yourself wonder?

When I awake, my vision is not as good as I recall. A lining of black blotches surround the outer parts of my view. The images before me are not adjusting, and remain a blur. My body felt like rag, and I was just a life size ragdoll. But now that I thought about it, I always was. My body was never tough. It wasn't built for battles. I didn't know what it was for, really. I just wasn't like Tooth, or other amazing female spirits. I can't fight. All I've ever been able to do was weave.

How could Jack ever like me...?

For a minute, I attempt to swallow the lump blocking my throat. It was difficult. I had no saliva, and there was nothing to swallow with. However, the thought fell apart just as quickly as it appeared. Now really wasn't the time to be thinking of that. Pitch is back. He's planning something. And I wish I didn't have to find out what.

Soon, I feel something tugging at me. Pushing me up to a sitting position. My back is straightened, but my body immediately slumps forward. There is an odd buzzing sound beating in my ears. This sound is a noise you hear. So I at least know it's not all in my head. For a while, I furrow my brow; which was a miracle to even be able to do, and try to figure out what it was. I finally register it as laughter.

Someone else is here with me.

I move my eyes to scan around with whatever control I had. Everything was a messy blur. From the colors I manage to pick up, I can infer that I am still in the North Pole. The forms around me are yeti, and the figures that tried to help me sit properly were elves. The buzzing in my ears began to clear, and I slowly pick up some sounds of construction work. It was followed by the aggravated moans coming from injured yeti, the whimper of crying elves, and North's voice clear above it all.

My eyes still weren't adjusting.

I try to move my limbs, but fatigue was dragging me under. Yet again. I manage to twitch my fingers, but something powerful was vice-gripping my movement. It paralyzes me from my veins, and the more I fought it, the more pain I experience. It spreads throughout my body and rattles my brain with agony. It was very difficult to breathe through, yet I let out a small whimper.

Upon hearing my voice, the yeti sweeps me up from the hard table I lie on and proceeded to take me elsewhere in the workshop. He rounds a sharp corner and my head collides with the wall. As if to add insult to injury, yet that impact set my vision in place. I use it as a chance to scan the workshop.

The Santa Claus hideout resembled a shipwreck more than it resembled a toy factory. Tables were flipped over, toys lie broken, most frozen, and holes dotted the walls and ceilings. The elevator had collapsed, cutting off access to the upper floor, but I notice a makeshift ladder the yeti had built to compensate its loss. On the indoor balcony, North was talking- no, yelling, to Jack, who was crouched atop of his staff. The other Guardians were gathered there as well, assessing the situation at hand.

I realize that is where the yeti is taking me, and my stomach drops to the floor. I don't want to see the look of worry on Sandy's face. I just wouldn't be able to face it. But that was the least of my worries. North and Bunny intimidated me to no end, even when I was invisible, and being around Tooth made me feel low as a rock. I was nothing like the thriving tooth fairy, who had everything figured out, and was strong, not only physically, but mentally. Strong in the real way.

The yeti begins to climb up the makeshift ladder, and I feel my heart beat faster. I want to scream, run away and never look back. Like I always do. I don't know how they would react, and facing uncertainty was one of my many, many fears. Unfortunately, the yeti's heavy footsteps were loud enough for the Guardians to notice our- his presence. My gaze drifts to Sandy, whose eyes widen in concern, but remained in his place. My stomach drops to the first floor. Jack gives me a welcoming smirk and nod, however, but it made my throat even drier than before. The other three Guardians gazed at me curiously.

The yeti lowers me down, but as soon as my boots touch the floor, I slump forward. I could've fallen flat on my face if the yeti hadn't caught the back of my collar in time. What a wonderful first impression that would've been. He props me back up again, but that only made my posture awkward. I was being supported entirely by my shoulders. My body is slumping, my head hanging a little bit while my arms were limp at my sides. My knees were bucked together, giving support for my legs.

I literally look like a puppet with no strings. But had no life breathed into it.

A few awkward moments pass, until North's voice finally cut the tension. "Who is she?"

My anxiety was so great that I didn't realize I was half expecting that question. I never came up with an answer, however. My dignity was dropping by the second, and I know I at least need to present myself properly. I gathered all my strength and stood upright, going against my desire to pass out from the agonizing pain in my veins. It grips me in place, I could hardly open my jaw. My posture isn't as awkward anymore, but it was riddled with erratic twitching thanks to the pain. I try to keep myself controlled, and I blow my bangs out of my face. My mind is trying desperately to come up with words, and I notice Bunnymund crossing his arms over his chest. Unimpressed.

"I-I... My name… is D-Daydream..." My voice sounds small and helpless. Perhaps it was the vice grip on my throat that felt like a hand was choking me, but honestly, I simply am small and helpless. The questioning eyes of the three Guardians are piercing through me, making imaginary holes in my skin. I know I have to say something else. Anything else before I get 'escorted' out. And I just can't stand the looks of pity on Sandy and Jack's faces. It made me feel miniscule. A bug with cold feet. My fingers were twitching again, but this time, it was because of pure anxiety. "I'm-... I'm the spirit of fantasy and imagination... I... Was invisible... Previously... But- I- saw Pitch! H-he's back! And-"

"Yeah, doesn't take a genius to figure that out." Bunnymund mutters, rolling his eyes.

I felt the lump grow inside my throat, festering like a tumor and choking me further. "We-well, yes, but- he-"

"Look mate, I can see you're obviously confused and lost. But maybe we can continue this little 'conversation' later. We've got important things to discuss right now." Bunnymund once again cuts me off. I want to keep talking, finish what I had to say. I had valuable information, that's why the yeti brought me there, right? I'm probably possessed by Pitch's sand for crying out loud. Yet, all the moxy and guts I accumulated was all in my head. In real life, I wanted to curl up and disappear. I wanted to be invisible like before. I thought Bunny was intimidating before, but now I realize how wrong I was.

"But-"

Once again I was cut off. This time, Tooth swiftly flutters toward me and pries my mouth open. I might've screamed and tried to pull away if I weren't paralyzed already. Unfortunately, I will simply have to settle with shaking in my boots while she scans my mouth from top to bottom. The oddness wasn't the problem, but the fact that it was Tatiana, the Tooth Fairy, who had taken control of my mouth, was. Nobody but me had ever touched my face. I suppose, fate thought 'Why not? Let's have her greatest female idol do that forcibly!'

Such is my fate.

However, in hindsight this was to be expected from Tooth. She sticks her fingers into the mouths of every stranger she meets. I start to wonder if she did that to Pitch back then too. "Gosh! You have very nice teeth, Daydream!"

My eyes were glued onto the hummingbird being the entire time, but now, they dart to Sandy, because I'm worried she might want to have one of my teeth. Sandy, however, gives me a mere shrug. I look to Jack as a last resort, my eyes not panicked anymore now, but pleading. The frost boy only chuckles while he shakes his head, fortunately striding over to me and Tooth. "Well, since you two are acquainted, how about a proper introduction, eh?" He slings his arm around my shoulder and pulls me away from the tooth fairy. I'm relieved, but at the same time, scared to death that I would fall over in his hold. "So, this here is Daydream. She forgot to mention but it's easier to call her Daze. As you can see she doesn't talk very much, so, I'll help out with the introduction. I just met her... Today actually. And here's the funny part about her. She makes belief."

North and Tooth gasps in surprise. Even Bunnymund's eyes widened considerably, raising his eyebrows. And I knew, I had a lot of explaining to do. It took a full hour for me to clarify myself and my sudden appearance in the world. Past the stammering and stuttering, I managed to bring myself to speak full sentences to explain. Who I was, what I do, what I could and couldn't do, what I've done so far, how I met Sandy and Jack, how I knew the Guardians, and how I made them exist.

"His nightmare… Assaulted me… But the black sand managed to recreate my arm, and now it really hurts when I move."

My story seemed to intrigue them enough as to keep listening. Sandy was nodding occasionally, confirming the information I was telling them, and even demonstrated the technique to make me visible. First, they had some elves bring over a bucket of water, and I reluctantly dunked my arm in, washing off the sand, showing them my original appearance. Invisible. As Sandy prepares his sand to be wrapped around my arm, I begin to worry about the appearance of Pitch's own sand appearing. That part seemed to be completely disregarded in my story. Granted, they probably think I'm just a wimp. True to my fears, tiny bits of black began appearing like flies to rotting fruit, as if attempting to recreate my arm on its own. However, Sandy's golden sand wrapped around my arm quickly enough to cover it.

The Guardians watched in awe when the sand squeezed and merged with my arm. Unfortunately, my pathetic whines of pain were distracting them from the process, ruining what would've been an angelic glow of something appearing from thin air. At the back of my mind, I wonder if the black sand would react to it, but to my relief, it didn't. The pain in my core weakens slightly. Perhaps because some of the nightmare's dust was washed off.

My arm reappears after the bright light produced by the sand died down. Sandy invites his friends to feel it for themselves, noting to them how realistic it looked. The familiar feeling of guinea pig-ism came around quickly after that. The Guardians were poking, squeezing, and stroking my arm as if it were an alien from outer space. It was awkward and strange, to say the least. Especially since they seemed to have forgotten that the arm was connected to someone, namely, me.

Once they were satisfied, I graciously pulled my arm back, and inspect it for myself. I flex my fingers, turn my hand over and back. It looked real, indeed it did. But it was also at that moment that I realized how dusty I felt. The Guardians seemed to have huddled together to discuss the new ability Sandy had developed, and the yeti was told to escort me to a spare room where I can rest. I didn't have much choice. The large, hairy creature took me away before I could say anything. But then again, what did I want to say? I knew as much about Pitch's motives as they did. Probably less. And what they know was nothing.

I took a slow breath in and wondered what they would subject me to next.

The room they had placed me in was small. It had only one window and a single, well-worn bed. There was a small shelf barely filled with books, and the tiles were dusty. I take one step in, and the door behind me was shut, but not locked. I turn around to stare at the wood for a while before proceeding to the bed, where I could possibly resume my weaving. As I sat down and put my hands up, something odd happened. I am supposed to see into the minds of millions of children, and the occasional adult, all at once, but this time, I can only see one. And it is dark, and it is cold. Pitch lingers in his cave. Pacing. His mind lost in thought. Dark thoughts. And crazily enough, I'm the one weaving them for him.

I could hear each step he took producing an echoing clank that echoed throughout the empty chamber. His thoughts swirled, twirled, and soared through his mind, and I simply keep adding more, and more, and more. I can feel him trying to decide which ones were better. A smile would play on his lips occasionally, other times he would shake his head. He was building a plan, and he seemed intent on making it absolutely flawless. But he also kept thinking about failure, about how he would be buried deeper than he was already.

"Little Daze..." His voice was sharp, cutting through the air, and I shudder. Black sand forms, dancing amongst his fingers, and soon shapes itself into a small figure. Me. "I know you're watching me."

My heart stopped right then and there, and so do my fingers. I'm frozen with fear, because I just know that this was his intention all along. To have me weave ideas for him. But is that all? I have the most awful feeling that it's just the beginning. "You're very clever, aren't you, Daze?" Suddenly I could hear Pitch again. No- not hear… I could receive his voice, feel it ringing in my mind.

Once again, he was intruding my thoughts, so I reach up to clasp my head. But that only made him laugh louder. "You're no threat to me. Not anymore. On the contrary, you're quite a useful tool now! But don't worry. I'll make you a threat. To the Guardians!" He cackles, oh so loudly, and I scream, because I want him out of my head.

The small Daze figurine is formed once again. He watches it with unfeeling eyes. He made a gesture with his fingers, making it glide on air beautifully. It raises high above the ground, twirling and swirling before floating closer to the ground where it is crushed under the hoof of Pitch's nightmare. "Don't worry, Daze. You'll be safe in my hands. So you'd better not leak my plans to the Guardians, not that, you have a choice, of course."

The last thing I hear was the nightmare's hellish neigh, before it felt like a sledgehammer came upon my head. My unheard screams were stifled, and for a moment, I'd forgotten how to breathe. My body was sent into violent spasms, and I end up on the floor. I could still see it, fleeting images of Pitch's mind.

He gestures for the steed to follow, and began to approach one of the many hanging cages. Buzzing, squeaking, and clattering emanated from it when he loomed over. And inside, was a captured Baby Tooth.

"Not feeling so brave now are you?" Pitch flicks the small fairy backwards. She tumbles to the other end of the cage and whimpers, curling into a small ball from the intimidating eyes of the boogeyman. "Oh, don't worry. I won't hurt you. But I don't know about my friend here." The nightmare lets out a snort, and Baby Tooth could only stare upwards with large, fearful eyes. "And remember. He can smell fear."

Once again, his laughter echoes through me.