Tooth emerged into momentary darkness before the magical lanterns registered her presence.
As she flew forward, they flickered on one by one until she could see the cave clearly.
The snowglobe had brought her to the hidden cave beneath the Tooth Palace where she kept Pitch's teeth.
The cave was actually a dormant volcano that Tooth had renovated once she realised the Boogeyman's teeth were too dangerous to be stored with the others. If Halloween had proven anything, they had a mind of their own and Tooth had often heard or half heard unnerving whispering coming from inside the tooth box.
The box in question was in its usual position: on a dark rock on a small island surrounded by a pool of clear blue water.
Tooth flew over to it and cracked her knuckles.
She couldn't see any of Candy's magic surrounding the chest but was wary of touching it. Her fingers still ached slightly from the first time she had tried to touch a tooth box Candy had taken over.
'Okay Tooth', she said to herself as a pep talk, 'Just pick it up and get back to Pitch. Any zappage, we grab some rubber gloves'.
Pep talk done, she took the plunge and grabbed the chest. The actual tooth box was kept safe inside the small stone chest: mostly to make Tooth feel better about handling it.
There was no harmful magic in it and she couldn't restrain a sigh of relief.
There was also none of the usual whispering from inside. Tooth shook it and was rewarded with the usual rattling sound of teeth inside. They sounded lighter than before, no doubt due to Pitch's current powerless state.
'No zappage. Good! Must be Pitch's magic cancelling Candy's out', Tooth commented, examining the box, 'Looks like Candy can't handle the tooth!'
As her nervous laughter died away, she rubbed her neck uncomfortably.
'Why am I talking to myself?' she asked, 'Wait a sec. Why's it so quiet?'
Tooth didn't visit the cave very often because of the oppressive atmosphere that Pitch's teeth generated. But the noise of her mini fairies going about their business had always made her feel better when she had been forced to check on the chest she now held tightly in both hands.
The only sounds were the occasional drip of water falling from a stalactite into the still pool and the eerie noise of wind echoing.
She looked at the waiting portal leading back to the lair.
Already it was half its size.
North's portals couldn't be left open for too long: they always closed after a few minutes to prevent any humans from blundering into them.
Tooth took a step towards it but then flew swiftly down the tunnel instead.
She flitted up the corridor illuminated by glowing paper lanterns, heading for the dim light at the end of the passage.
'This is crazy Tooth! This is stupid! Everything's fine!' she whispered feverishly, the sweat on her forehead and her hammering heartbeat instinctively telling her otherwise.
She emerged from behind the trailing ivy that concealed the entrance to the cave and ascended towards the golden towers.
The usual noise of the hundreds of mini fairies going about their work, which should have been louder than usual thanks to Candy's machinations was absent.
Tooth's stomach turned to a block of ice as she got closer to the towers.
On every ledge was what appeared to be small piles of brightly coloured feathers that rose and sank gently.
Every mini fairy had been put to sleep; golden dreams of teeth dancing around their heads.
That meant-
The feathers on the back of Tooth's neck suddenly stiffened and she realised there was someone watching her. She also heard an approaching whistling noise coming from behind her.
She quickly dropped in mid-air, just in time to avoid a golden dreamsand arrow that had been aimed at her head.
Swivelling around, she saw her attacker watching her from a higher tower.
Sandy was already notching another conjured arrow to the dreamsand bow he held in his left hand.
Tooth clutched the box tightly.
She couldn't outfight Sandy and even if she had been a better warrior, she knew Sandy would not stop under the influence of mind control.
Candy had sent him here to stop the mini fairies.
That meant no back up.
That meant no teeth being collected.
That meant faith in the Guardians would weaken.
Swallowing, Tooth realised the portal was now beyond her reach. She had left it too long.
She would have to fly back to the lair. With Sandy hot on her heels.
Taking a deep breath, she made her move.
There were four other sets of teeth she had to save from Candy.
Swooping upwards, her wings beating hard, Tooth flew towards the highest point of the central tower.
Sandy loosed another arrow but a quick jink to the side ensured it hit the cliff face instead of Tooth.
His cherub face fixed in a solemn expression, he leapt from the ledge and took off in pursuit.
Back in the lair, Pitch emerged from the bedroom just in time to see the portal vanish.
Tooth had not returned.
That meant two things: one, Tooth was in trouble or two, she had decided against giving him his teeth after all.
Pitch didn't like either option and regardless of which one was true, was not content to sit and do nothing. He whistled for Onyx.
'Open the door', he commanded.
Onyx tapped a hoof on the ground and a swirling vortex took shape in front of them.
'Stay here', Pitch said to Onyx, preparing to enter, 'If I don't come back in ten minutes, you know what to do'.
Onyx snorted affirmatively.
Pitch stopped dead and looked at her.
'What? No! Don't close it!' he said, 'Just wait another ten minutes!'
Tooth slammed the heavy double doors behind her, locked them and placed a delicate chair under the doorknob. Her personal chamber only had one way out: the balcony she had just used to enter.
She flew to her golden bed, throwing the silken duvet out of the way.
She couldn't keep Sandy out for long but it would buy her enough time to grab the teeth and get out.
Grabbing a pillow, she wrestled it from its case and dropped Pitch's teeth inside.
Dropping to her knees, sack beside her on the marble floor, she rummaged beneath the bed until her dainty fingers wrapped around the handle of the box she was looking for.
Tooth sighed in relief. Sandy hadn't found it.
It wasn't glamorous but it was the safest place to keep them. After all, even the Boogeyman hadn't thought to look under the bed for them when he had invaded her home at Easter.
An unseen but complicated lock clicked open as soon as Tooth touched the diamond carved into the lid of the box. Inside, nestled on a bed of pale blue silk were four tooth boxes.
To her dismay, each one was glowing with the sickly pink aura that had burnt her the first time. So it wasn't just the song Candy was using to control the others!
Tipping them onto the floor, being careful not to touch, she counted them.
Jack Frost. Nicholas St North. Aster Bunnymund. Sanderson Mansnoozie.
From the groaning of the doors, the final box's owner was nearly done unlocking them. A dreamsand conjured lockpick no doubt.
Tooth snatched the pillowcase up and began to handle each box carefully, keeping the fabric between her skin and the boxes.
She managed to get Bunnymund's and North's into the sack before a long, slow creak made her stop dead.
Sandy was waiting in the open doorway, rolling a dreamsand whip between his hands.
Tooth put the pillowcase down and slowly took up a crouching position not unlike a marathon runner.
She was not leaving without the Guardian teeth.
Sandy seemed content to wait.
They both knew there was only one way out for Tooth.
Tooth took a deep breath, sizing up her opponent.
Sandy was small and plump but in battle, that had never mattered to him very much. Tooth had spent many a combat training session being knocked around like a novice by the diminutive Guardian. And she had always suspected he had gone easy on her.
Her plan was simple: the execution was going to be hard.
'Sandy moves', Tooth said internally, mentally preparing herself, 'Dodge, launch into flight mode, barrel roll, Sandy dodges to avoid wings, turn, kick off from balcony railing, attack from behind'.
As Sandy took a step, Tooth made her move.
Her wings buzzing furiously, she took off, feet skimming the ground as she headed straight for Sandy.
She didn't make it to the barrel roll.
She cried out in surprise as a golden net enveloped her, the dreamsand whip uncoiling into a swirling whirlpool of golden cords. They wrapped tight around her, halting her in mid-air. She fell to the ground, crying out in pain from contact with the hard floor. She strained to free herself as Sandy dusted his hands.
Ignoring her, the Sandman bent down to pick up one of the boxes.
'No!' Tooth screamed.
As Sandy turned to her, Tooth saw what happened next as if it were in slow motion.
A black sand like substance exploded from beneath the bed.
The bed went flying.
Sandy turned at the sudden noise and was hit bodily with the airborne bed.
It hit him with such force that it pinned him against the wall, his head and one arm sticking comically out from the top. Dazed, little golden birds began to circle his head.
Pitch leapt out of the black hole where the bed had once been, took stock of the situation, including the stunned Sandy and commented, 'Birds? Funny. I always assumed they would be stars'.
Sandy's confused mind weakened the cords enough for Tooth to break free.
Dusting herself off, she stood up.
'Wow', she said, 'You look…different'.
Pitch lifted the long red cloak he was wearing and let it drop in acknowledgement.
The armour he wore, though old and worn, still shone golden in the daylight coming from the balcony. His long boots had golden spurs affixed to their backs and his hair mingled with the black feathers that formed a collar for the cloak around his neck. On his chest, a clasp showing the symbol of the moon held the cloak in place.
'I feel different', he said, 'Though that's what I get for wearing someone else's clothes'.
He bent down and picked up one of the Guardian teeth boxes.
Tooth was about to shout a warning but stifled it when Pitch suffered no ill effects from touching it.
'This is why you didn't return I take it?' he asked, examining Bunnymund's picture on the box, 'My god, the front teeth in here must be enormous'.
'Put them in here!' Tooth cried, holding the retrieved pillowcase open.
Pitch did as she asked and Tooth smiled gratefully as she tied the top shut.
'I'd never thought I'd say this', she said, 'but I'm glad you're here'.
Pitch was figuring out how to respond when Tooth made a sudden lunge for him.
'You don't have to be that grate-' Pitch began, moving back instinctively but stopped talking when he saw Tooth's open mouth and widened eyes.
A golden ball of dreamsand hit her in the face, in the exact spot it would have hit Pitch had he still been standing there.
Tooth fell to the ground instantly fast asleep.
Pitch turned his head and saw that Sandy was struggling to free himself.
He decided to make things harder. Taking the second pillow from the bed, he stripped it of its pillowcase and unceremoniously pulled it over Sandy's head.
Nodding, satisfied with his work, Pitch turned back to Tooth.
The pillowcase lay a few feet away. In the mouth, he could see one of the boxes glinting as if winking at him.
When would he ever get this chance again? His teeth and the Guardian teeth all in his possession?
Tooth would do anything he asked just to know they were safe.
He could defeat Candy himself now he knew her tricks. And Tooth had said dreamsand wore off after a time.
Even if it didn't he had his teeth!
The more Pitch thought about it, the wider his grin became and the closer he walked to the pillowcase.
Once Candy was defeated, he would be the one with the power. If she could use her magic to control others, why couldn't he? She had said they were similar. He didn't know what he could do with the teeth yet but even the thought of him having them would cause horror amongst the Guardians.
Most of all Tooth.
Poor, desperate Tooth.
As he took hold of the sack and prepared to enter the portal alone, he couldn't help but take one last look at her somnolent form.
A small smile played about her lips and a gentle blush was on her cheeks. Her fingers flexed slowly on the ground as if stroking an invisible cat.
Pitch had to admit it was a peaceful image, despite the dwarf writhing within a pillowcase at the other side of the room.
For some reason, he was tempted to touch her but caught himself and swallowed the pointless sentimentality.
He did permit himself to bid her goodbye.
'Sorry Tooth. Maybe next time', Pitch said, a mocking (he insisted) smile on his face.
Sorry Emily. Maybe next time.
Do you have to go?
Pitch stopped dead at the sound of the voices. The first was his own. The other was of a little girl.
She misses you.
This voice belonged to an older woman and the sound of it make Pitch gasp. His heart felt like it would burst from his chest. He wracked his brain trying to figure out to whom the voice belonged.
He, Sandy and Tooth were the only living people in the room.
Or was it Tooth?
As Pitch's gaze fell on her, her form seemed to ripple as if underwater and suddenly there seemed to be another in her place.
The marble floor vanished to give way to green, vibrant grass and birdsong entered into his perception. He shook his head at the bewildering visions but could not take his eyes off the woman.
She was wearing a golden dress, her feet bare and her black silken mane of hair slightly covered her face. As he watched, her realised she was not asleep but merely content, humming to herself.
Humming the lullaby!
He dropped the sack, all dark notions banished from his thoughts, replaced with an intense desire to see the woman's face.
He grabbed her and brushed her hair back.
The rough movement broke the spell.
It was Tooth in his arms, her head nestled against his chest.
Breathing heavily, cold sweat threatening to mingle with the single tear on his cheek, Pitch numbly gathered her into his arms. As he walked, he paused briefly to pick up the dropped sack of teeth.
He carried Tooth into the waiting portal, ignoring Sandy's continuing struggle behind him.
Onyx was waiting obediently for them when they re-emerged into the lair. A quick tap from a front hoof closed the shadow portal, ensuring no unwelcome guests could follow.
Pitch placed Tooth carefully onto the Nightmare's waiting back. Onyx thoughtfully grew black tentacles to help keep Tooth on board.
Pitch gave Onyx the pillowcase after removing the chest containing his own teeth.
'Take them to one of the rooms', he said walking away from her, his eyes fixed on the chest.
Onyx nodded, uneasy at her master's unusual mood and began to carry Tooth up a nearby spiral staircase.
'Wait', Pitch said, causing Onyx to stop dead. Tooth gave a small groan at the movement.
'Gather the other Nightmares. Start collecting children's teeth. Bring them here'.
Onyx cocked her head, unable to whinny due to the pillowcase in her jaws but a brusque hand gesture from Pitch signalled she was dismissed.
As Onyx wracked her brain to find a reason for why her master was behaving so strangely, Tooth was having a peaceful dream.
She was in a sunlit field, lying beneath a great tree. There was someone with her, a man, holding her hand as he lay beside her. She didn't know who he was, only that he made her feel happier than she had ever been.
She knew it was a dream. Being the Guardian of Memories meant she picked up on the little details that other people took for granted in dreams.
She couldn't wake up yet: the dreamsand was too strong.
But deep in her heart of hearts, she was glad to stay a little longer.
Back in the real world, Pitch sat in the same throne he had been sitting in when Tooth had first come to see him. It was less comfortable than before.
What had that vision been?
The emotions that had threatened to crush him in the Tooth Palace were fading now.
He had abandoned his plan for conquest because of phantasms and ghosts?!
He cringed as he realised he had a headache coming.
That stupid lullaby was back in his head!
He wasn't feeling himself.
It was time to bring certainty back into his world.
He cracked the chest open, reaching for the tooth box and bracing himself for the welcome rush of power that would signal the end of the personal nightmare he was experiencing.
The chest was empty save for some small fake metal balls.
He tilted the chest and they clicked together. They made a clinking noise identical to that made by real tooth boxes.
Pitch yelled in thwarted rage and using both hands, he threw the chest into a nearby cavernous pit.
He did not hear it hit the bottom but he heard the metal pearls bounce off every wall on the way down.
It sounded like mocking laughter.