Toothiana

I landed on the walkway, forcing my way through the monkeys blocking the large door. They screeched at me, angrily, clawing at me, as I flew above them. I pushed open the door, my eyes instantly finding my fairies, who tweeted fearfully, as monkeys poked at them, laughing cruelly. I screeched, loudly, making the monkeys scurry away. My fairies perked up, at my appearance and sang happily at me.

I flew to the cage, placing my hand on the wire, "I'm so sorry. I'll get you out of here. I promise." I told them, quickly, pulling at the padlock.

"Fairy, I've been expecting you." I spun at the sound of The Monkey King and glared at him. He held one of my fairies in his hand, tightly, making her squeak, "You're late."

I glanced at my fairy in his hand and held up my hands, "Let her go. I'm here now, please, just don't hurt her." I begged, fearfully.

He bared his teeth at me, his eyes burning, "Do you think your precious Sisters didn't hurt me? When they stole my humanity!"

I flinched, crossing my arms, "That wasn't me. I wish I could take back what they did to you, but you tried to kill me, you killed my parents. Haroom was your friend-"

"He stopped me from gaining the rarest animal," He snarled, throwing the fairy across the room.

I flew over and caught her, holding her closely, "Are you alright?" I whispered.

She nodded, weakly, glancing over at the cage. Shall I try open it? I nodded, looking back up at The Monkey King, as she flew from my hands. "The Flying Elephants are not to be hunted." I told him, sharply.

"Such a prize," He sighed, thoughtfully. "I would have been rich beyond belief, if your idiotic parents had not gotten in the way."

"They did the right thing. Are riches truly worth the life of such a majestic creature?" I asked, calmly.

"I would hunt ten of those beasts for only a hundred." He sneered, approaching me, slowly.

I forced myself to remain still. "Those beasts are worth a million of you." I spat, harshly.

He circled me, a sharp-toothed smile playing on his hideous face, "I would still very much like to capture you." He told me, plucking a feather from my back. I gasped, spinning to him, defensively. "I expect that some hunters would pay handsomely for a specimen like you."

I narrowed my eyes at him, shaking my head, "I am a Guardian, ape. Only those who believe can see me." I told him, smugly.

"Ah, I know that," He smirked, dragging his claws across the floor, creating sparks. "Though why would I miss an opportunity for revenge?" He sat down in his throne and grinned at me, drumming his nails.

I jumped as monkeys attacked me, knocking me to the floor. I kicked them off, desperately, instantly flying upwards, away from them. A cry made me look back, just as a chimp jumped at me, digging his claws into my back. I gasped in pain, as his claws swiped my wings, making me fall to the floor. Several monkeys surrounded me, clawing at me, screaming.

Suddenly, they all scurried away, fear in their cries. Hands landed on my shoulders, making me look up, warily. Golden eyes looked back at me, worriedly. "I'm alright," I stuttered, pushing myself up, flinching as I did so.

Pitch frowned, peering at my back and gasped. I looked up at him, quickly, "I-is it bad?" I breathed, shakily.

He shook his head, hesitantly, glancing up at the Guardians. "No, it's – it's fine." He muttered, helping me to my feet.

"Well, well, well," The Monkey King growled, drawing our attention, "If it isn't the precious Guardians and... Pitch Black? Still hanging around with these freaks?" he frowned, angrily. "I thought I told you not to get involved."

I glanced at Pitch as he shrugged, "I've never been one to follow orders." He told him, simply.

"Why do you want Tooth?" North asked, stepping forward, protectively.

"It is because of her, that I am this creature. Because of her that I lost my humanity." The Monkey King yelled, jabbing his finger at me.

"You tried to kill me," I repeated, sharply, forcing myself to focus on him, rather than the pain on my back.

"I was hired to hunt you," He replied, clicking his fingers. A dozen monkeys dropped from the ceiling, encircling us, baring their teeth. "And I am going to complete my job."

My eyes flickered to the cage, where my fairy desperately attempted to open the cage to her sisters. I pried my eyes back to the Monkey King and frowned, "Pretty boring hunt, isn't it?" I told him, nervously.

"What are you doing?" Pitch whispered, as The Monkey King frowned thoughtfully.

I pressed my finger to my lips and looked over at the king, "So how about we make it a real hunt?"

A smile spread across his face, at my words, his eyes passing over my fellow Guardians. "Now that does sound promising. However your friends will be an issue."

"Tooth, we aren't going to let this baboon hunt you." Jack told me, sharply.

"Baboon?!" The Monkey King screeched, his eyes burning. "Perhaps you'd like to join the hunt. I have not capture a human before."

I shook my head, pushing Jack back and turning my back to him, "No, just us." I ordered, making his eyes spark eagerly, "That means your little minions cannot intervene, nor can they hurt my friends." I added, quickly, as the monkeys began to hoot. "And let my fairies go. It isn't right to keep them in such a tight cage." I argued, glancing at them, guiltily.

"Toothiana, you can't seriously be considering this," Pitch hissed, storming to my side, obscuring my view of The Monkey King. His golden eyes stared down at me, something close to fear in them.

I pried my eyes away, painfully and nodded, "It's the only option we have." I told him, forlorn.

He turned from me, "May we have a moment?"

I looked over at The Monkey King, who frowned at Pitch, curiously, before his eyes flickered to me. "I suppose. This will be the last time you will speak, as I have never failed a hunt." His words sent a shiver of fear through me, causing Pitch to tense, knowingly. "Go now, return in five minutes. Or I will come after you, with my minions." He smiled, waving us away.

Pitch nodded to him, turning me to the door and pushing me out, the Guardians following us, closely. I stumbled into an empty room and turned as my friends began to argue. I held up my hand, silencing them and sighed, "Look, I know you don't like this but-"

"Don't like?" Pitch growled, making me shrink back, "I don't like the sun, Sandy's dust or Manny's decision about being a Guardian. But this, this I hate!"

"Tooth, how could you agree to such a thing?" North asked, his skin paler than Jack's.

"Didn't you even think of coming up with a plan first?" Jack asked, his usual humorous attitude evaporated.

"Of course I did," I retorted, grumpily, "But we didn't have much time. If I don't think of one, I'll just fly away." I offered, coolly.

"How?" Pitch snapped, spiking my fear further, "You can't fly. Not with the condition your wings are in."

I felt my breathing stop at his words and glanced back, lifting my wings, painfully. My eyes pricked as I looked back at my ripped wings, forcing myself to glare at the floor, as a tear escaped. "Why didn't you tell me?" I sniffed, wrapping my arms around myself.

"I didn't want to worry you," He replied, somewhat calmer, "I never thought you'd actually agree to a hunt."

"What else could I do?" I snapped, glaring at him, "He has my fairies. They saved my life, it's only right that I return the favour. I can't leave them here."

"We could've figured something out!" He hissed, "Instead of you throwing yourself in front of his crossbow!"

I groaned, throwing up my hands, "You don't understand! No one understands!" I spat, making his expression fall.

"Come on, now," Bunny intervened, quickly, stepping between us, his eyes landing on me. "We are just worried about ya, that's all."

I shook my head, looking up at him, "I know, and I wish you wouldn't." I sighed, weakly.

"We are more than just Guardians for the children," North bellowed, walking to my side and placing a large hand on my shoulder, "We are to look after each other. Protect each other."

"Some things aren't preventable, North," I told him, turning to the man who was like a father to us all. "You know that, more than anyone."

"Maybe we could think of something, quickly." Pitch offered, sounding desperate.

I sighed, stepping back to look at him, "Pitch, it's too late-"

"No," He growled, pacing the room, whilst holding his head in his hands, "No, I'll find some way..."

I frowned at him, as he continued to pace, before I glanced up at North. "You have to take care of him." I whispered, as he looked down at me. "I want you all to get along, like the old days."

He gave me a small smile and laughed, "I think we all know that." He winked, before looking over at Pitch. "We will take care of him, as will you."

"North, I'm not-" I began, tiredly.

"Here, let me check your wings," Bunnymund interrupted, turning me so that I faced Pitch. I watched him, a distressed expression on his handsome face, as he thought hopelessly.

"Pitch," I sighed, "Please..." I begged, making him look up, slowly.

He shook his head, a pained look in his eyes, "I – we – aren't going to lose you, Toothiana." He told me, plainly, before he looked over at North, "Please, say you have a plan?"

North shook his head, looking down at the floor. Pitch turned to Jack, "Anything? A prank? Snowball fight? Something to distract him, at least?"

"'fraid not," Jack muttered, shooting me an apologetic look. I gave him a reassuring smile.

"Bunnymund," Pitch asked, sounding strained.

I dropped my eyes, as he turned to where I stood, looking behind me at Bunny. I didn't hear his response but I knew it was a negative. He stepped to my side, giving me a small grin, "Your wings will be fine. Just don't force them. I recommend not flying for the next forty-eight hours, at the least."

I nodded to him, grateful for his help and sighed. I probably wouldn't be flying in two days anyway. I shivered as fear raked through me.

"Stop it..." Pitch murmured, pinching the bridge of his nose.

I frowned, confused before realising what he meant. "I can't help my fear, Pitch." I breathed, softly. He stumbled slightly, shaking his head. "W-when was the last time you actually took in some energy?" I asked, moving towards him, worriedly.

He shrugged, straightening up as though nothing had happened. "I'm perfectly fine, Toothiana."

I frowned, "Kozmotis, I was not born yesterday." I told him, making his eyes widen.

"Kozmotis? Really?" He chuckled, feebly.

"You call me Toothiana," I smiled, my fear slipping away slightly, "Maybe I should call you by your name."

He screwed up his nose, shaking his head, despite the smile on his face, "Pitch is fine. And I call you Toothiana because it's what you said your name was. I never said my name was Kozmotis."

"First of all, I told you that over five hundred years ago," five hundred and eleven to be exact. "And second, you did. You said it was Kozmotis but you changed it to pitch, since your last name was Pitchiner."

"She has a bloody good memory," I heard Bunny mutter, followed by several snickers.

Pitch ignored them, still smiling, softly, "Actually it was five hundred and eleven." He whispered, making my heart jump.

"You remembered," I laughed, happily, all thoughts of the Monkey King slipping away.

"Of course," He nodded, as though I were crazy to think otherwise. "You were my first friend. I would never forget the day we met."

"Well, it was quite memorable." I giggled, "Do you remember when we snuck into the ground hog's lair?"

His eyes lit up, as the memory struck him, "Yes, he chased us for miles." He laughed. The sound was like music to my ears, music that had been lost for centuries.

"Uh, guys?" Jack cleared his throat, loudly, snapping us out of our moment.

I shook my head, hoping the blush in my cheeks wasn't noticeable, "So, when did you last take energy?" I asked, returning to my worries.

Pitch frowned, shrugging, coolly, "A few days ago?"

I sighed, shaking my head at him, "That was a bad idea. Especially when the sun will rise in-"

"I'll be fine." He smiled, thought it looked forced. "Let's just get rid of the ape."

Feeling dubious, I, subtly, turned to his nightmares that stood calmly behind him, staring into their golden eyes. They stared back at me, curiously, their eyes flickering to Pitch who walked over to the others, brainstorming plans. I slid over to them, hesitantly, moving my hand to the horses nose. It flared its nose, warningly, as it sensed my fear. I shushed it, softly, placing my hand on its nose.

I shuddered, feeling my fear draw out of me and into the nightmares.

"Toothiana," Pitch cried, separating me from his nightmares, abruptly. I shrank back, as he waved his hands through the horse, causing it to vanish with a yelp. He spun back to me, horror planted on his face, "What do you think you're doing?"