Toothiana

I yawned, rubbing my eyes as I sat up. "What happened?" I asked, curiously.

"Long story," I looked up, quickly, at Pitch's voice and frowned.

"Where am I?" I asked, hesitantly.

"North's workshop." He told me, "How are you feeling?"

I glanced around, frowning at my fellow Guardians, "I'm fine… why am I here?"

"These guys in cloaks tried to snatch you," Jack told me, simply. "Pitch brought you here."

I turned to Pitch, surprised, "Thanks… wait, guys in cloaks?" I looked back at Jack, nervously. "You mean, around Sandy's height, long black cloaks and red eyes?"

"Yes, you know them?" Pitch asked, curiously.

I nodded, swinging my legs over the side of the chair, "Yes, do you have the Immortal's book?" I asked North.

North nodded, walking over to the desk behind him and picked up the large book. I took it from him and opened it, flipping through the pages, quickly. I stopped on the page, closing my eyes, "The Monkey King."

"What? He is still alive?" North asked, curiously.

"Very much so," I nodded, looking down at the picture of the monkey man. "His minions are monkeys that he had cursed. They grew wings and learnt to speak and follow his every command."

"So they were flying monkeys," Bunnymund said, smugly. "So why is he after you?"

"Years ago, when he had his slave Haroom try to capture a rare species; the flying elephant, that circled the jungle surrounding the home of the Sisters of Flight but when one of the sisters came to help the elephant, Haroom refused to let him hurt her. They forced him to leave what he brought with him behind, which ended up being his humanity, transforming him into a monkey. He vowed revenge and declared that when I come of age, he would capture me and exploit me as a freak show, killing my parents in the process." I explained, handing the book to North.

"So this guy is so hell-bent on revenge he has waited centuries to capture you?" Jack asked, confused. "Why not capture you years ago? I mean, why wait?"

"Because… well…" I frowned, looking up at Jack, "I don't know."

"So where is he hiding?" Pitch asked, determinedly, "We could probably capture him before he evens know anything."

I shook my head, turning to Pitch, "No, it's too dangerous. The Monkey King is not like us, he was cursed, and he has a vendetta that nothing is going to stop." I told him, "Best thing we can do is avoid him and his minions."

"So basically we sit here like lost puppies until he gives up?" Jack questioned, "Isn't that weak?"

"No, Jack, I'll go back to my Palace and you'll all get back to work. We act as though none of this happened." I said, assertively, rising to my feet.

"So what, we let him capture you?" Pitch asked, confused.

I nodded, shrugging softly, "There is nothing else to do. The Monkey King has had five hundred years to plan this. He won't be making any mistakes. I might as well just get it over with."

North placed his hand on my shoulder, turning me to face him, "Tooth, what about the children? Your fairies? You cannot just leave them."

"He's right, you know." Bunny sighed, hopping to my side, "Look, we'd be lost without you. You're part of the team and if he's after you, he's got another thing coming."

I smiled at him but shook my head, "It's too dangerous. I won't risk you guys getting hurt."

"It's our job to protect each other, Tooth." Jack said, sliding off his staff. "Besides, there's six of us and one of him."

"What about his minions?" I frowned, "You do realise there are over one hundred of them, right?"

He waved it off, "Did you see how many nightmares we fought last week? And this time we have Pitch's help." He nodded to Pitch.

"This isn't like that, Jack. Pitch's nightmares were sand. They were easy to defeat…" I bit my lip, "No offense, Pitch."

Pitch shrugged, unbothered, "I get your point. They were sand but these minions are actually living."

I nodded, glad someone understood. "Exactly, and we also had the children helping."

"So we will find his location?" North nodded, walking away.

"What – no," I frowned, as he walked away.

"Then we sneak into his lair," Jack offered, excitedly.

"Stop it, we're not-" I began, as he walked after North.

"Then we give him the ol' one two," Bunny smiled, hopping along with them.

"Will you listen-?" I growled, impatiently.

Sandy smiled, shaking his head as he floated after them.

"So where did you say he lived?" Jack asked, as they all looked up at the globe.

"Will you stop already?!" I cried, making them all look back at me. "Don't you get it? There is nothing you can do. I've seen the signs, Manny saw them too. Hence, the new recruit." I pointed at Pitch, who still looked unhappy with the idea of becoming one of us.

"But if we can-" Bunny began, softly.

"You can't." I snapped, "Manny himself couldn't help. Look, I'm going back to the Palace. I need to explain the situation to my fairies." I told them, turning to the door.

"Pitch, do something," North hissed, making me frown.

"And since when are you all so chummy?" I asked, curiously, turning back to them.

"We're not," Bunny scrunched his nose up.

"Well, try to be," I shrugged, "Because whether any of you like it or not, he is a Guardian."

"I'm not," Pitch frowned, snapping his head to me, quickly. "I've made it clear I'm not."

"Then why are you here?" I snapped, glaring at him, "Why bring me back? Why not let those things take me?"

He shrugged, glancing at North, who nodded, encouragingly. The other Guardians watched, looking just as confused as I was.

I gasped, looking down as several feathers were plucked from my body and fell to the floor. "The fairies…" I breathed, forcing my wings to flap quickly as I shot out of the workshop.

"Toothiana!" Pitch called, as I flew away.

Don't touch the fairies! I thought, hastily, pushing my way through the blizzard.

I reached my palace just in time, as my wings grew weak and I fell to the floor. I gasped as I struck the ground, pushing myself up and looking around. "No…" I gasped, my hands flying to my mouth, as I searched for my fairies.

"Maharajah!" I cried, angrily. "Bring them back, right now!" I ordered, desperately.

I sank to my knees, feeling weak, as the children began waking up. Not again.