Chapter 11

"You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." Joy continued.

"What's going on here?" Jack asked, standing by the doorway.

"Jack!" Luna greeted. "Uhm, Joy got stabbed on the shoulder by an arrow." She blabbed.

"What?" Jack floated beside Luna. "Joy? Are you alright now?" Joy ignored him, continuing to look at Bunnymund dreamily.

Bellatrix answered, "She is, except for the fact that she might be acting like a lovesick puppy."

Jack looked at her. "And who are you?"

"Bellatrix Noir. Ki- Queen of the Shadows," She sighed. '–and Nightmares.' Bellatrix added in her mind. Jack raised a brow at her but thought he'd check on Joy first.

"Joy?" Jack called, jealousy starting to rise inside him as Joy, again, ignored him.

Bunny cleared his throat and stood up, unable to handle anymore of Joy's stare. "Err- I'm gonn' go-"

"No!" Joy sat up and grabbed Bunny's wrist as he was about to turn towards to door. "Don't leave me." She frowned. Bunny sat down again with Joy's hand still holding his wrist.

Luna, Jack and Bellatrix couldn't help but feel so uncomfortable by how the Guardian of Love was acting. Jack and Luna, especially. Bunnymund looked at them, his face clearly screaming 'Help me'.

"Joy?" Luna spoke up. "Can you stand?"

Joy nodded slightly, her eyes leaving Bunny but only for a second. She let go of Bunny's wrist for a moment and swung her legs to the side of the bed and stood up, but staggered and fell on him. Bunny blushed, but not of the close proximity, which was nose-to-nose, but because of embarrassment and.. disgust. Instead of pulling away, like she would normally do, Joy smiled kissed the tip of his nose.

Luna let out a small, inaudible gasp, frowning upon her friend's actions. Joy knew Luna was in love with Bunnymund, so why was she doing all this?! Jack's reaction was no better. Yes, he's stubborn and won't admit it, but he likes Joy. Like, like-like. The two felt a pang of jealousy and betrayal.

However, Bellatrix noticed all of these things. She tried hard not to smirk at the duo's reaction to that little kiss. But all the while, she couldn't help but feel awkward.

She cleared her throat. "Shall we go to the Pole then? Seeing as your friend is well and is able to walk- technically. We must not forget the matters of me turning into a.. a woman."

Bunny was first to react. He put on a poker face and helped Joy stand up. Luna and Jack recovered from their sudden shock and placed on a façade. They gave a nod, signaling their agreement.

Bunny tapped twice on the ground, but before he could say anything, Luna glanced at Bellatrix. "I'll just shadow-travel with you."

Bellatrix nodded and didn't ask anything, Bunnymund frowned and jumped in the hole, shutting it before Joy could even catch up to him. Jack already went outside, going inside one of Bunny's tunnels that leads somewhere closest to the North Pole. Joy, frowning upon Bunny's actions, went ahead with Jack as Bellatrix and Luna melted into the shadows.

oO North Pole Oo

"Bunny? What is big news? What are you doing here?" North asked, looking up the paper Phil needed him to sign and shoving him the pen. He gasped. "What happen to you?" He asked again, eyes staring in disbelief as he took in the appearance of the now quite human Bunny.

"We are here to discuss.. My matters." Bellatrix announced from behind him, folding her hands neatly behind her, Luna doing the same except in front. "-and his." She added, gesturing to Bunny.

North looked at her, then at Luna. "Who is black woman?" He asked.

"Isn't that racist?" Jack asked, smirking as he flew down from the open window, Joy following him. Luna almost smiled at his attempt. Almost.

She straightened her back and cleared her throat. "Shall we go to the meeting room, then?"

The others nodded. "Do we call Sandy and Tooth?" North asked. Luna glanced at Bellatrix.

"Very well."

Minutes later, the two arrived and were led to the others.

"Guys? What's going on? Did anything happen? Oh, dear! Bunny?! Woah." Tooth rambled as she took her seat beside Sandy, who was glancing curiously at the new comer and at Bunny, who was wearing a red v-neck shirt and brown trousers. His tanned skin still had these familiar grey tattoo-looking marks. His long gray-ish hair messy and unkept.

When the Guardians finally settled down, they waited for Luna to talk, who was twirling a lock of her midnight blue hair.

"Okay. Which should we discuss first?" She breathed. "Okay. I know you guys haven't been going along well in the past but please, it's kind of important." Luna looked at each of them in the eye, completely excluding Joy, who wasn't paying much attention. She straightened her back and raised her chin dramatically. "Pitch Black has turned into a woman."

That one simple sentence caused an immediate uproar among the Guardians.

"Guys, calm down! Just shut up for a minute, geez!"

"But Luna, how are you so sure?"

Bellatrix coughed her throat. "I'm right here, Toothiana." She and Jack gave off a horrified expression.

"'Old on. You..?" Bunnymund gestured to her body.

"I could say the same to you." Bellatrix retorted, raising a brow and tightening her jaw.

"GUYS." Luna interrupted. They quieted down. "We will discuss this in an orderly fashion, okay?" She said slowly as they listened like little kids being told not to get the freshly baked cookies on a plate.

"Bella- uh, Pitch? Please do elaborate on how you think you became female."

"It was that witc-" Joy and Luna gave her a pointed look. "Sorceress' spell that she casted on me the night I.. I accidentally popped in her bathroom at the wrong time." She cringed in embarrassment.

Joy, who knew all about this since she was the one who came there first, didn't say anything. She knew, at the back of her mind, that she was under her father's love spell. It intoxicated her, but it wasn't strong enough to completely take over her conscience. She also knew it would talk her true love's kiss to break the spell. Of course, there is another way. Joy would be needing to wait for 36 hours for the damn spell to wear off, but it advisable to do the kiss since she does love someone, but would never admit it. Even to herself.

"Should we call Karen?" Tooth chimed in. Luna glanced at Bella and Bunny, they nodded.

"Good idea, Tooth. " North commented and called Phil in to get the sorceress.

As they waited for Karen, they discussed about Bunny's incident of getting splashed on by a green fluid while cleaning Karen's bath tub.

Suddenly, the door opened."What is this Bellatrix you are talking abou-" Karen bursted in, seeing Bunnymund first. "Oh. So that's where my potion went." She blinked.

"Have a seat, Karen." North said. She nodded and took the last remaining available seat at the end of the table, opposite of the Russian man.

Karen took a deep breath as the tension around the room grew slightly awkward.

It was Luna who spoke up first.

"As you can see, we're in a quite complicated situation right now." She nodded to Bellatrix and to Bunnymund. "And we need your help in bringing them back."

Karen opened her mouth and closed it again, trying to find the right words to say. "I.. Don't know if I can do that." She slumped on her chair and crossed her arms. "The potion that went all over Mr. Easter Bunny was a.. prototype. I don't have a cure for that yet. And as for Pitch- Bellatrix, whatever, I don't even know what spell I used. I don't know if I've used it before. I don't even know if I learned it." Karen gave out a huff.

The others sat there, shell-shocked. North, Jack, Bellatrix and Bunnymund stared at the young sorceress with their mouths slightly agape. Tooth's wings were nervously twitching about whilst Sandy was half asleep. Joy was twirling a strand of her blond hair while 'secretly' looking at Bunny. A moment of silence was met before a loud SMACK was heard all around the room. It was Luna face-palming.

"Okay, great. Now what do we do?" She groaned. Luna was starting to have a headache. Another realization hit her.

"MOTHER OF-" The others jumped in their seats (Sandy included) as Luna banged a fist on the table. "HOW DID I NOT SEE THIS? GODS, I'M SO STUPID." She turned to Joy. "This young lady is under a love spell." She announced, pointing to her friend.

"I-I don't even know what's happening anymore." Tooth spoke up. Everyone mumbled in agreement, except for Karen who's eyes were wide as saucers.

"Hold on a sec, what do you mean that my friend here-" Karen pointed at the blonde, "is freaking under a love spell when she's actually the Guardian of Love?" Luna rubbed her temples, groaning in exasperation before slumping at her sit and burying her head in her arms. Once again, silence surrounded them, only the ever so flutter of Tooth's wings could be heard and the distant ringing of the bells.

'Goddamnit, I have to do something!' Joy's mind struggled over the spell. What could she do? She was stuck watching herself go all googley-eyed at Bunny. 'Eugh.' Unless, of course, she could... No, no, no. Absolutely NOT. Joy Amour assessed herself. Could she wait 38 more hours until the spell wore off or could she do one thing she always wanted to do?

"I'm taking a guess that no one here knows how to break the spell?" Luna suggested. The others nodded and she sighed. "I guess I'll just have to-"

Joy had enough. She put all her strength to stand up and mustered all the dignity she could get. It was now or never. She strode over to where Jack was sitting with powerful steps and grabbed him by the collar. It was now, or never.

"Joy?-"

Luna gasped, the guardians had their mouths agape while Karen just smirked. There, standing in front of them, was a sight they were wanting to see for a long time. (That sounded creepy but moving on)

Joy felt euphoria the moment her lips touched Jack's. Although slightly confused, Jack didn't hesitate to kiss her back. His eyes slowly fluttered shut as he placed his pale hands on her cheeks burning red. Jack is the manifestation of winter yet Joy only felt a cozy and comfortable warmth as he deepens the kiss.

Bellatrix blew out a whistle, which blew everyone out of their trance. Including Jack and Joy.

Joy looked at the others, then back at Jack, whose hands were now on her waist. "If there's something I need to say: it's that I don't regret any of that." She whispered to him, winking at him when she turned her back to him to return to her seat. Jack stood there, dumbfounded, but overjoyed. Like oh my gods I waiteD A LONG TIME TO WRITE THIS-

*coughs*

Tooth snorted. "You guys have no idea how long I've been waiting for this moment." She squealed, clearing her throat and sat up straight after a second. The others laughed along.

"I think I do!" Karen hollered. Jack squirmed in his seat, as red as a tomato. Joy wasn't better, either.

"I take it you're out of the spell now?" Luna asked, grinning widely. Joy nodded and heard a sigh of relief from Bunny.

"Don't get me wrong Joy, I love ya ter bits but I can't stand you actin' like tha'." Bunny chuckled as he rubbed the back of his neck.

Bellatrix cleared her throat. "If there's nothing you could do to fix my situation, then I guess there's no reason for me to be here." She told Karen. She was about to shadow-travel back to her place, but was stopped by Luna.

"Hey, don't be like that. Besides, I owe you some cookies, don't I?" She smirked, happy to get at least one thing back.

A/N: MERRY CHRISTMAS! Look, I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while, so I made this chapter extra long. Here's my gift to you. Huehue. And if you get where Luna owes Pitch, it was when he brought her back to the Pole when he kidnapped her.