"Hong kong, 23 incisors! Sydney, 7 molars, one bicuspid. Chicago, 3 premolars and 17 canines. Head out!" Tooth barked her orders without hesitation. She was flying down into one of the lesser used parts of the Tooth palace. In the basement of the Tooth palace, there were not many things she needed very often. However, she had a feeling that there could be something there that might help with Jack's memories. After all, where was a better place to look for information on lost memories than the very storehouse of all the memories in the world?

One fairy flitted close to her head and squeaked a problem into her ear. Tooth came to a stop in front of a pair of heavy wooden doors. "What do you mean she grabbed South American currency?! She's in the Asia department! Fine, you take her what she needs, and quick! If you can't, then delegate. There are four hours until sunrise in Japan, work west from there." Tooth barely glanced at the fairy she was speaking to. She laid a hand on the intricate carvings in the door, and took a deep breath. The colorful mosaic underneath her fingers began to glow, then roll back in a wave of iridescent diamonds. Where two doors had stood, there was now a gaping arch. She flew through.

"I need some time." she informed the swarm of fairies as they attempted to follow her in. "Baby Tooth, can you take charge for a few more hours?" The little fairy nodded, practically glowing with pride. She turned and resumed order giving in her mother's stead as the doors reformed themselves behind Tooth.

This was a storage room of sorts. Everything that didn't have a place found a home in this room eventually. It looked somewhat akin to a museum exhibition, with everything carefully labeled and placed. She slowed fractionally, and trailed her long fingers affectionately along the box that held the baby teeth her parents had given her as a child. They had saved her life.*

This was also where the Man in the Moon contacted her, if the need arose. She hadn't been down here in at least a century, probably closer to that plus a half. Tooth hovered above the fanciful 'G' painted onto the floor. She wasn't sure what she had expected in coming down here. She didn't have any secret weapons…

Tooth allowed the thought to trail off. That was a lie. She turned around. She had passed it seconds ago, on her way in. Her sword. That was definitely a weapon. She hadn't touched it in years, sure, but it was definitely a powerful weapon. She could still remember back to the time when she never let it leave her side. She had stopped relying on it far in the past, after she had become a guardian and began to enjoy all of the new powers that came as such, and so had placed it down here. She flew towards it curiously. Could it somehow be useful? She didn't see how.

Once she came to stand in front of it, she went to touch it. She drew her fingers back when a clanking came from behind her. She turned sharply. There was no one in here but her; that was certain. It was impossible for anyone but her to even enter, and she had brought no one with her. Her stance softened as she realized what had happened. The door in the roof had opened. Fresh moonlight was spilling on to the neglected guardian symbol, and Tooth returned to hover above it. She looked up through the shafts that had been carved through the floors above. This was definitely not the most convenient place for contact, and if Manny had reason to speak to her more often, it might have been a problem. As it stood, he usually contacted Sandy or North, who then called meetings. It was easiest that way.

Tooth waited patiently for all to become clear. If Manny was contacting her here, it must be personal. Personal and important. She watched as the shadows began to gather, forming familiar shapes.

A figure with a staff. Tooth smiled, hope beginning to rise within her. Could Manny be telling her how to return his memories? She waited for the next silhouette eagerly.

A tall man. Spiky hair, pointed chin. Tooth's eyes narrowed. Pitch?

The second figure flowed over to the first. A hand was placed on the first's shoulder. Tooth expected the Jack to push it away. He didn't. The two figures stared up at her with their hollow, moonlit eyes. Tooth stared at them for a moment longer, then vocalized her thoughts.

"I don't understand." She gazed towards the small patch of inky sky. What was Manny trying to say?

The cold hiss of scraping metal came from behind her. Tooth turned to face it, her confusion growing. An ivory snake of moonlight had snaked over to her sword, and it now floated towards her, free of its sheath for the first time in centuries. Despite its lack of use, it gleamed deadly silver in the sparkling light shed on it now. It seemed to be held aloft by the threads of light alone. Tooth shifted her position slightly as it was carried gently past her. It came to a stop directly above the guardian symbol. As its shadow fell upon those of Jack's and Pitch's, they dispersed.

Tooth looked at her sword. So she was going to need it, she was reasonably sure that was part of what Manny was telling her. But for what? If it was merely a weapon she needed, surely he wouldn't have chosen this. It was good sword, yes but she had far more efficient means of defending herself now. She glanced upward once more, then gasped.

Descending towards her was a memory box. That much was sure. Tooth appraised it intently as it came closer; it wasn't like any memory box she had ever seen. It had the same shape and size, but while the memory boxes of the children were usually gold, this one was drenched in varying shades of icy blue. Where the face of the memory's identity should have gone, there was merely a snowflake. Tooth reached out a hand as it came level with her, hesitating only slightly. She had trained herself not to touch the boxes of the children. If she did, she would be thrown into their memories, whether she wanted to see them or not.

Tooth knew exactly what kinds of personal things could be inside those boxes, and thus tried to stay out of them. If she was right, and Manny was somehow giving her Jack's guardian memories, she wanted to respect his privacy. But she continued to reach for the box when she remembered that Jack had been fine with showing her his human memories. Besides, what else was she going to do? Let the box fall to the floor? She uncurled her fingers, and the cylinder fell into her palm. It was smooth, and cold against her hand. She closed her eyes and waited for the memories to start, only to open them again a moment later. Nothing was happening.

She placed a couple of fingers on the intricately carved flat side of the box. The colorful diamonds rolled back as they always did, but instead of being submerged in a memory, she was shown the inside of the box. This wasn't normal.

Aside from the fact that she could not get into the memories, there was another thing wrong with this picture. In the tiny, velvet lined nooks where adorable little teeth would usually rest, there were tiny, delicate looking snowflakes. To the side of each one, was a painted symbol. Tooth glanced over them all until she came to one she knew the significance of. A staff, instantly recognizable, with an amount of detail that she felt sure even Bunny would gape at. The snowflake next to it was slightly smaller than the others, but equal in beauty. Tooth studied them for a moment longer, then came to a conclusion she felt was reasonable.

"These are… memories, aren't they?" She asked aloud. She brushed the painting of the staff next to the glittering fleck of snow. "And this one," She thought how to best put her theory into words. "This one is our Jack's. The others, they're…" She didn't recognize any of the other symbols. But then again, she had never known any of the previous Jack Frosts. "They are the memories of the Jack Frost before our Jack. And the one before him." Tooth had of course, known that the Jack she knew was only the most recent reincarnation; after all, snow and ice were part of the world long before Jackson Overland Frost was born during the colonial stage of America. But she had never given it any thought before.

"The other Jacks'…" she started, a small ridge growing between her eyes, "Were they as alone as our Jack? Were they believed in?" She looked up at the moon, an entire state of mind opening up to her. "How did they… Does this mean Jack can die? Permanently?" Tooth waited, letting the silence cultivate her thoughts. She wasn't exactly sure what she was waiting for. An answer? A sign? She didn't know.

Tooth reached for the sword in front of her wearily. It didn't truly matter, she supposed. What mattered now was getting this memory box to Jack. The memories would probably open up to him, as he was who they were meant for. But unexpectedly, when her fingers came into contact with the hilt of the sword, the light of the moon intensified, until she was surrounded by a piercing whiteness that forced her eyes closed. A voice resounded in her head. It was masculine, though not too deep. It was lilting and peaceful. In its smooth tones she heard what could only be described as the personification of comfort. It spoke one simple sentence.

"To survive, become as you were."

The light faded gradually, and after a few moments, Tooth was left in the center of the room, clutching her sword and the memory box. Her eyes readjusted to the dim lighting of the room, and she stood motionless for a while. This was a big deal. Manny had actually spoken to her. She had heard his voice, once, maybe twice in all of her time as a guardian, and she knew that the other guardians experiences were very similar. She thought about his words carefully. Each one was precious, something she would probably never hear again.

To survive, become as you were.

But what did that mean? Become as she was a year ago? A hundred years ago? She sighed, then made to get up. As she did, she was reminded of the sword in her hand. She looked at it, suddenly a new line of thought blooming. Manny had spoken to her as she had touched her sword. Could he have meant become as she was back when she depended on this weapon? Back when each of her little fairies were not individuals with their own minds and thoughts, but a part of her being? The thought was worrying. If that were what Manny wanted her to do… well, she just couldn't see how that would be the wise thing to do. If she were to recall all of her fairies, how would the teeth get picked up and delivered back here? There was no way that was what he meant, she decided. But the sword…

Tooth swung her sword in a circle, letting the muscle memories in her hand do their work. She was not as rusty as she had thought she would be. Yes, this must be what Manny wanted. For her to carry her sword again.

oOo

Tooth stepped out of the room, letting the arching doorway fold in behind her. Her sword was sheathed on her side, and the memory box was clutched in her hand.

"Tooth!" Came a voice from her left. She turned to it sharply, then relaxed as she took in the familiar form of North. He was straightening up from leaning on the wall, and his eyes were crinkled into that ever present smile. "I am so glad you are here. Fairies told me eet might be a while before you came out. I was almost ready to leave."

"Sorry. Has Jack woken up yet?"

"Yes he has. He ees with Bunny. They went to Jamie's."

"Jamie's?" tooth asked in confusion. "Why did they go to… well you know, never mind. Something really important has happened! While I was in there, I -"

"Listen, eet might be good idea to talk on the go. Eet has been a while, and I told Bunny and Jack we would meet them there. Let's go, da?"

"Absolutely." Said Tooth. She began to fly down the hallway, towards where North usually landed the Sleigh. She remembered to slow down when she realized North was jogging after her. They continued forward. She handed the memory box to North, who inspected it curiously. "I think this will get Jack's memories back."

North whooped happily. "Alright! Then we have no time to lose! Jack, we are on our way!"

A/N: *Quietly sneaks back onto the internet.*

OH! Hey guys! what are you doing here...

Sorry.

I offer no excuses. But I'm Back now! *nudges chapter towards followers as a peace offering*

Anyway, chapter fifteen is finally up? I know, I know, for that long of a hiatus, this is a pretty poor chapter. But, rest assured, the final story arc is coming, and... well, lets just say I hope you're impressed. I think it's good. I can't wait until I get it up so you guys can tell me what you think!

Thanks for your patience!

*I made a reference to the fact that Toothiana had a box of baby teeth and they had saved her life. This was a reference to her past, as per the original series. These teeth are what made it possible for her to split herself into thousands of tiny fairies. Now, personally, I believe that when she splits like that the fairies take on a personality and consciousness of their own, but that's just my opinion.

Love,

Mariah