Well, it took me awhile to recover from all the fluff of the last chapter, *coughs out fluff and tiny hearts* but I am able to now continue. So, as to help with me and the cuteness overload, let's have ourselves some good old fashioned guilt tripping and the oldest known way to get a hero out of their safe haven! *rejoicing and jumping in glee* Also, if anyone has any questions please leave them in a comment. I'd be more than happy to answer them.

Chapter Eleven: The Unfortunate and Only Choice

[3rd Person POV]

Just as everyone finished with the tour of the Cloud Palace they caught Cupid and M.N. walking back into the building, laughing and holding hands. The group said nothing as they watched the happy pair walk down a hallway and soon disappear from sight. Even Tooth, who had always had a beef with M.N., was overjoyed to see the two eldest Guardians together. It was a moment before North broke the silence.

"I told you it would happen but you didn't believe me. But once again, the belly did not lie." He said with a grin to Bunnymund, Tooth and Sandy.

[1st Person POV; Summer]

When I woke up I was in a warm place and, even though the last thing I remember was being choked to unconsciousness, I felt great minus a scratchy throat. As my senses came back I realized that I had to be somewhere sunny due to how comfy and warm I was…along with the light shining down on me. That's also when I found that I wasn't alone since I felt a soft hard brush the hair out of my face.

Opening my eyes I found myself greeted by the sun and a warm smile. Of course, as my eyes focused I soon discerned the two from each other and found that the sun wasn't actually smiling down at me. It was pretty darn close though.

"How are you feeling?" WiS asked sweetly asked me in the way a mother would.

"Oddly good. Course that could be because of all the sunlight." I answered her.

"Good. I've been waiting for you to wake-up; I have something to tell you."

"Sorry for taking so long. Where are we anyway?"

"Cupids' Cloud Palace. They brought you here after the attack at the Garden of Eden." She answered.

"Oh, I see. What did you need to tell me?" I asked her.

With a smile she said, "I found out who you used to be and what your name was."

I stared at her in awe, overjoyed and not only fully awake but excited beyond belief. Eagerly I sat up and straightened out my hair, barely able to contain myself. Then, more than ready to, I waited for her to tell me what it was.

Laughing she told me, "It took a while but then I looked back at why I chose you and was able to trace it through that. Anyway, it turns out that I chose you to be the Guardian of Families, since, sadly enough you died saving yours."

"How did I die?" I asked, slightly confused.

"I don't know how it started but, your house was set on fire one night while everyone was sleeping. Your father and brother were away at the time but your mother and two sisters were at the house with you that night. As it was, you woke up first and rushed to get them all out safely, putting all of them ahead of yourself. Just as you were going to the front door a beam fell down and…you burned to death. It was then that I chose you to be a protector of childhood." WiS told me sadly, her eyes turning a gloomy purple color.

I sat still, taking it all in and thinking about what I'd just been told. There was a part of me that wanted so badly to find the people responsible for what happened and give them a piece of my mind (and a fist to the face). Yet there was an even bigger part that yearned to know what happened to my family and if they were alright after that. It was like a whole river of emotions had just begun to flood through me and there was no dam to stop it.

It was only when WiS pulled me into a gentle hug that I realized I had cried alittle and noticed how upsetting this was. Burring my head into her shoulder I forced myself to calm down and think rationally. There was nothing I could do since my family and the people responsible were both dead by now.

"Do you want to hear what your name is?" WiS asked.

"Yes, I do. I have for 300 years."

"That's what I thought. Your name is Garret Sun and you originally had black hair and hazel eyes. Of course, I think you look better as a blonde with green eyes."

"Yeah, black hair isn't too summery is it?"

"No, it isn't. Besides, with your blonde hair I finally have some-one I match with." She said with a smile.

Smiling myself I said, "Thank you WiS."

She looked down at me and, giving my head a kiss, replied, "You're more than welcome Garret."

[3rd Person POV]

It was all joyous in the Cloud Palace as soon everyone was gathered together and informed by WiS of the Spirit of Summers' real name and what he was the Guardian of. All of the other Guardians congratulated him on this and asked if he remembered any of his past like Jack had. Surprisingly, Jack was very sympathetic with Garret upon hearing how he died and actually began a conversation with him without making a single crude joke about him.

As great as everything was none of them knew that down in the dark depths Pitch and his partner were plotting how they would pull the Guardians back down to the earth and destroy them.

[3rd Person POV]

Pitch sat in the darkness of his lair, still trying to comprehend what the Spirit of Spring did. She not only deflected his arrow but she also broke through his barrier…well more like tore through it but she none the less got through it. It was something he simply could not grasp and wrap his mind around.

"What is it that is troubling you Pitch?" a raspy voice asked from the darkness.

"That girl, nothing I did harmed or hindered her. She seems to be immune to my powers." Pitch answered.

"And this bothers you?"

"Yes. Wouldn't it bother you if some-one was immune to your powers?"

"Yes it would."

"Exactly. Then there's that rainbow girl, who controls light like that boy. I nearly was skewered by a violet-light spear." Pitch exclaimed remembering how he'd ducked the light formed weapon.

"Well we can turn the odds in our favor if you'll stop mopping about."

"You're right Kuroi. It was quiet rude to put up that barrier around the Cloud Palace. Let's let them know that." Pitch said as he got to his feet.

[1st Person POV; Garret Sun]

Jack and I were training together in one of the cloud fields that were part of the palace. Just as I knocked his staff from his hands there came a distant shout. Both of us paused, me lowering my weapon and Jack picking his up off the cloud formed ground. We stared at the closed doors and listened to the shouts, which were getting increasingly louder.

Right as we began over to the double doors they were thrown open by Bunnymund, who was out of breath and looked quiet flustered. He hopped over to us quickly and we could tell something was wrong just from the state he was in. Both of us waited until he'd calmed down slightly to ask what was happening.

"What's going on Bunny and was that you shouting?" I asked him.

With a nod he answered, "Yea, an' I've been lookin' for you two. You were right Garret, Kuroi and Pitch are working together and they've done something to the sleeping children. They're alive but none are waking up! And all are having nightmares!"

"I knew it. We have to find Pitch and Kuroi and stop them before they take this any farther."

"That's the other thing. Kuroi and Pitch have sent an invitation to us saying that if we don't leave the Cloud Palace, he'll kill all of them."

Upon hearing that I froze and couldn't think or respond. All of this was just a way to get us down from Cloud Palace? That's ridiculous and sick!

"All of the others are waiting for us in the Heart Room." Bunnymund told us.

"Alright, let's go." I replied.

Jack and I ran as we followed Bunnymund to the Heart Room. Bunny opened the door and instantly the noise of the chaos inside flooded into the hall. All of the Guardians and WiS were standing and vehemently discussing the matter at hand, all of them clearly as frazzled as I was. It was only when Jack cleared his throat that the Guardians went quiet and looked to us.

"Judging by your faces I assume you've heard the news?" Eros asked us.

"Yes. Pitch and Kuroi are terrorizing the kids and keeping them asleep just to make us leave the palace." Jack answered.

"Well, that's half of it." Autumn interjected.

I looked over at my friend who had a grim expression mixed with anger. It was then that I noticed that Tooths' eyes were red from crying and M.N. was comforting her while WiS was glaring at the floor with bright and enraged glowing red eyes. Everyone else in the room was either looking at me sadly or couldn't seem to make eye contact with me.

"What's the other half?" I asked curiously.

"The other part of the deal is that either one of the elder Guardians dies or we hand you over to them weaponless. I we don't comply then they will kill the children that are asleep." Autumn answered me, his distress and sadness clear in his tone.

Only thinking for a minute I quickly told them, "Hand me over to them."

"No, absolutely not!" Hilaria exclaimed upset. "Kuroi will kill you!"

"And I should let one of the elder and more important Guardians die?" I questioned her.

"No, but…" She said, breaking down and crying.

I looked at my friend sadly and then at all of the other Guardians. They were staring at me with glossy eyes, all looking about ready to cry like Hilaria was. North, who maybe appeared the most upset with my quick decision, walked over and put his hands on my shoulders.

"Garret, are you sure about this? Hilaria is right…he will kill you." North told me worriedly.

"I'm sure. But there is one thing that I need to get before I do and I need Hilria's and Tooth's help." I told him while I thought about a plan I'd had for a while now.

Tooth and Hilaria both looked over at me abit confused but also curious as well. The two Guardians got up and walked over to me, nodding to show that they would help me. Then, even though it was a grim situation, all of the others came in close and pulled one another into a big group hug.

Finally! WOOT WOOT! Gawd this took me forever and I apologize for it. Anyway, enjoy, R&R and all that. Thanks!