'My fair lady and gentlemen, we are in', Bunny proclaimed, leaping out of a conjured hole in the ground.
He had come from Burgess Forest straight back to Candy's trailer.
Jack was lounging on the couch reading a magazine and North had gone back to work on the microphone. Sandy was floating cross legged either meditating or sleeping.
'How?' Jack asked, sitting up.
'This little googie here', Bunny said and produced one of his eggs from a pocket on his leather bandoleer, 'Just came back from his first patrol'.
'You painted it black', North deadpanned.
'Sometimes mate, simplest solutions are the best', Bunny said with a smile he hoped wasn't too smug, 'The lair keeps me out but it doesn't pay any mind to something this small'.
'But you still haven't gotten inside?' Candy asked without looking at him. She was examining a blueprint Sandy and North had drawn for her concert stage. She was making additions and adding notes to the complicated looking design.
'I'm working on it', Bunny said, smile fading, 'At least we've got eyes on the inside now right?'
'Hmm', was all Candy said.
Bunny looked crestfallen.
'Is great Bunny but do not be working too hard', North said, clapping him on the shoulder, 'Thanks to what Sandy has told us, Tooth could end up letting us in'.
'Doesn't seem like she's come to her senses yet', Bunny said, looking at the egg, 'Can't say the same for Pitch'.
'Sorry forgot you left while we were still 'translating' what Sandy was saying', North apologized, 'Took four hours. We only finished about ten minutes ago'.
Sandy opened one eye indignantly. It had definitely been only three and a half hours: he'd been very clear! What did they expect? It was a difficult subject to explain!
Was it so hard for people to listen?
'Sandy says the funny thing about memory sharing is', North elaborated, 'if someone inexperienced, for example like Tooth, tries to enter a session without the proper training, like Tooth, it can cause complications for the other person'.
'But not Tooth', Jack interjected.
'Fail to see how that matters Jack', Candy said, eyes narrowing at the mention of Tooth's name.
'The longer the memory sessions go on, the deeper Tooth is going to be digging in Pitch's memory', North said, miming digging a deep hole with his hands, 'All those nasty memories bubbling to the surface. Pretty soon Pitch won't know where he begins and Pitchiner ends. Neither will his powers'.
'Good news then', Bunny said, 'It's already happening'.
That made Candy look up and smile at him. Bunny's ears perked up at the positive attention.
'Then Candy'll be able to control him!' Jack said.
'Control' is a nasty word Jack', Candy said waving a finger in mock scolding, 'I will 'convince' him to join our side'.
'You want me to keep an eye on them in the meantime?' Bunny asked.
He was slightly annoyed Candy hadn't thanked him for his work but decided against mentioning it. It was obviously the stress of planning the concert that had made her forget. What she said next made him brighten further.
'Absolutely!' she said enthusiastically, 'I want to know every detail'.
'Alright then', Bunny said smiling.
He turned his attention to the teeth, still sitting under the coffee table like an ill-tempered dog.
'Guess we've all decided we don't need these then', he said, bending down to regard them, 'North, ya got a hammer?'
'No! Don't touch them!' Candy snapped.
'You're not gonna try and absorb the magic from them are ya?!' Bunny asked incredulously.
'Gods no!' Candy gasped, 'Look at that stuff! I don't even want to think about what that'd do to me'.
'Then why keep it?' Bunny pressed, 'Gives me the creeps'.
'How else am I going to use my powers to subdue Pitch when it opens?'
'What if Pitch doesn't agree to join us?' Bunny asked but then tried to backtrack, 'Not that I'm saying he wouldn't. You're you after all'.
Candy gave him a hard stare.
'Bunny, if there's something on your mind, just say it', Jack said, trying to dissolve rising tension.
'Yes Bunny', North said a little too jovially, 'We're all friends here'.
'I just don't trust Pitch', Bunny said, folding his arms.
'Well neither do I sweetie!' Candy exclaimed, throwing her hands up, 'Not yet'.
'I've been thinking; do we really need him on our side?' Bunny asked, 'He's nothing but trouble'.
'We need him to show Tooth that there's no cavalry coming to help', Candy said as if explaining to a slow child, 'To show her she needs to join us too or be alone forever. I'm looking forward to seeing the look on her face when she finally has to admit who the better fairy is'.
'Why do you hate Tooth so much Candy?' Jack asked, 'Just, she's always been a good friend to us. Right guys?'
The others murmured affirmative replies, conscious of Candy's irritated mood.
'Do you trust me Jack?' Candy said.
'Of course I do', Jack said, regretting having asked.
'Then trust that you don't need to know', Candy said, patting his cheek, 'Soon Pitch and I will have a nice little chat and he'll love me as much as you guys do'.
'But he's a monster!' Bunny snapped, 'He can't feel love!'
Jack saw Candy's eyes flash in anger and her lips tighten at Bunny's words. Then it was gone.
When she turned to Bunny, she had a mischievous glint her eyes and she was smiling.
'Are you jealous of him? He's quite a looker now'.
She walked towards him, one pointed nail sliding across the smooth surface of a wooden table.
'No!' Bunny said.
'Scared of him?' Candy asked, sidling up to Bunny and flicking his shoulder fur.
'No!'
'Then you must be saying he's stronger than me?' she asked, any traces of flirting gone. Her fingers clamped on to his shoulders.
'No! I would never say that!' Bunny protested, looking to the others for support.
They responded with helpless looks.
Jack thought it was amazing how small Bunny looked despite standing two heads higher than Candy.
'You're thinking it Bunny. Along with a lot of other things you shouldn't be', Candy said quietly, lowering his head to her level, 'That's dangerous. Am I clear?'
'Yes Candy', Bunny said, equally quietly, eyes lowered, 'Sorry'.
'Okey dokey then!' Candy beamed, giving his ear a little tickle.
Bunny couldn't help but thump his foot in enjoyment, his relief at her instantaneous change of mood obvious.
'Everyone clear on what we're doing?' Candy asked but then continued without waiting for an answer, 'Great! I'm off to get a free lunch somewhere! Coming?'
North followed Candy obediently out of the door.
Sandy uncrossed his legs and floated after them.
He raised an eyebrow at Jack and Bunny.
'Catch up with you in a minute Sandy', Jack said, conscious Bunny was still staring at the floor.
As Sandy left, Jack picked up his staff and stretched.
'It's okay Bunny. Candy'll forgive you', Jack said with confidence.
He knew it wasn't in Candy to hold a grudge.
'Maybe', Bunny said, 'Jack, don't you think bringing Pitch on side is a bad idea?'
Jack fought the urge to sigh in exasperation. Bunny was one to hold a grudge.
'I've told you before', Jack said, rubbing the back of his neck, 'I'm not sure he's as bad as he used to be and if anyone can get through to him, it's Candy. I'm more worried about Tooth. Dunno what's gotten into her. She seemed really interested in Candy when we were talking'.
'Pitch is what's gotten into her', Bunny said scowling, 'You shoulda heard 'em Jack: laughin' and jokin'. Like Easter never happened! She's forgotten who she's dealing with. Just because a fox dresses up nice doesn't mean you wanna make friends with it. She needs to be with us and Candy away from him'.
'Candy wants Pitch on our side too Bunny', Jack said, 'You're not gonna go behind her back are you?'
Bunny looked at him.
'Oh my god you are', Jack said, clamping a hand to his forehead.
'Jack, Candy doesn't know Pitch like we do. She took his powers away from him. You think he's just gonna let that go?'
'Once Candy talks to him, he'll see she's right and-'
'Don't you get it Jack?!' Bunny interrupted, 'There won't be a conversation! Pitch'll kill Candy first chance he gets! Or worse, he'll wait, pretend to be on side then kill her later when our guards are down!'
'Tooth won't let him kill Candy', Jack said soothingly, 'Tooth would never let him destroy anybody'.
'What makes you think he'll listen to Tooth?!' Bunny yelled, 'He doesn't listen to anybody! If Candy hates Tooth so much then maybe Tooth hates her too!'
'Calm down!' Jack yelled back, 'Even if either of them try anything we'll be there to stop them! Then we can all be on the same team'.
'You're just like Candy: you're both looking for good in someone that just isn't there!' Bunny grumbled, punching the wall in frustration.
'I'm taking that as a compliment! Are you sure you're not jealous? You're not the only one here that cares about Candy you know'.
Bunny seemed about to retort but then stopped himself. He took a couple of deep breaths and sat down on the sofa slowly.
'Then why aren't the rest of you worried?' he asked, 'Tooth and Pitch are going to attack Candy again. I feel it in me whiskers. I'd enjoy teaching Pitch a lesson but I know I can't hurt Tooth. Even if Candy asks me to. Can you?'
Jack answered immediately.
'No'.
He sat down on the sofa opposite Bunny.
'So what do we do?' Jack asked, running a hand through his messy hair.
'We break Tooth and Pitch's partnership ourselves', Bunny said fingers steepled, 'Without Candy'.
'How?'
'We give Pitch his teeth back', Bunny growled.
'Are you nuts?!' Jack exclaimed.
'Hear me out' Bunny said, raising a paw, 'Pitch goes back to normal, Candy can't bring him on side. He attacks. We know all his moves. Four of us against one of him. Heck, you blew him outta the sky all by yerself at Easter and out a window last night! We destroy him, Candy's safe'.
Bunny was glad to see Jack hesitate to answer. It meant he was thinking about it.
'What about Tooth?' Jack asked.
'Bit of dreamsand'll put her out without hurting her but hopefully just seeing Pitch's true colours will remind her he's not someone you want as a friend. Candy is'.
'How do we get the teeth to him? We can't get into the lair yet and he didn't trust us to begin with'.
'Sorry to dredge up bad memories mate but remember when we all thought you had joined him at Easter?'
Jack said nothing but Bunny could see residual hurt in his eyes. He remembered.
'I say we do the same thing he did to you', Bunny said, 'See how he likes being played'.
'What about North and Sandy?' Jack asked, pacing.
'Too much soldier in 'em mate. Won't go against Candy's orders. They'll come round when Tooth's back with us but it's up to us to get her'.
'Candy's gonna find out', Jack said after a long silence.
'I know', Bunny said, standing up.
Both of them looked at the tooth box under the coffee table. It felt like it was looking back.
'She's gonna be mad', Jack said.
'She can be as mad as she wants', Bunny said resignedly, 'As long as she's safe. Are you with me Jack?'
He extended a paw.
Jack grabbed a doily from the sofa. He bent down and carefully picked up the box.
He handed it to Bunny, trying to ignore the strange pulsing coming from the box.
'Let's do it', Jack said.
Pitch was hanging his wet clothes up to dry in the kitchen, having swapped them for a plain black robe similar to the one he could usually manifest.
Tooth's gentle joking about the amount of rooms in the lair had unwittingly started a train of thought.
Living as long as he had been meant a lot of possessions had been accrued over time, for example a lot of books merited bookshelves, though he was conscious the library did need a bit of tidying. There were a few bedrooms to hold clothing or pieces of furniture that had caught his eye. He hated waste. No sense in a four poster bed rotting away in some stately home when he could be using it. Besides, just because he didn't dream didn't mean he didn't sleep.
Had it been boredom? It probably had been.
Tooth was correct: he didn't usually need to eat or bathe so a kitchen or a bathroom was largely unnecessary. He was glad he had them now but couldn't remember why he had built them originally.
It certainly hadn't been in case company came calling.
He had created the rooms for himself and set several aside on the lower levels as stables for the Nightmares. He had just gotten sick of seeing them wandering around aimlessly and chewing at his garden.
Then again, was company so bad?
As he picked up an apple he had purchased at the store that morning and polished it on his robe, he looked out the kitchen window. The sculpture was still out there in Antarctica like an eerie beacon.
He remembered approaching Jack at Easter. It had been a clever ploy: a way to turn the boy against the Guardians by playing on his vulnerabilities but now that Pitch thought about it, had there been a grain of truth in what he had said to Jack?
About being alone?
He squeezed the apple in his fingers.
That was ridiculous! Loneliness never bothered him. He had learnt very early it was a strength, no, a requirement for his lifestyle.
But then, why all the rooms?
Why even set more than one chair at the dining room table?
So Tooth could sit there?
He took another bite, chewing gently.
She was still upstairs having her bath. If he listened, he could hear her singing faintly from somewhere above.
A tell-tale 'clippety clop' heralded Onyx's entrance into the kitchen. She came over to Pitch who gave her the customary pat on the nose in greeting.
'Strange having another actual voice here isn't it?' he said.
Onyx nickered and nudged his hand.
Pitch rolled his eyes and gave her the remaining half of the apple. The Nightmare took it and crunched the core noisily.
'Still, no point getting used to it', he mused, watching the core travel down Onyx's translucent neck,
'A few more sessions and I'll be back in business. Things will be back to normal. Thank the gods'.
Onyx looked at him with cavernous golden eyes and tossed her head upwards.
'What?' Pitch asked.
Onyx tilted her head upwards again and whinnied.
'Of course she'll leave!' Pitch said sharply, 'Why would she stay here?'
Onyx put her heavy head on his shoulder. Pitch staggered at the weight.
'I'm sure she loves the cobwebs, the damp and the near total lack of sunlight! I'm beginning to lose patience with the latter myself!'
Onyx snorted.
'You want her to stay?!' Pitch lifted her head off his shoulder, 'What's gotten into you?! She slip you a sugar lump or something?'
Onyx licked his cheek, leaving a sandy trail on his cheek.
'It's true she's not bothering me as much as I thought she would but that doesn't mean we're friends! She's a Guardian remember? You're supposed to eat them!'
Onyx cocked her head.
'Then again', Pitch said reflectively, 'it's nice to have a conversation with someone who talks back'.
Onyx stamped and began to walk out of the kitchen.
'Don't sulk!' Pitch said after her, 'When I talk to you it's like talking to…'
Pitch sighed heavily.
'Myself'.
Onyx wanted Tooth to stay. That meant…
'Oh no', he said, covering his face with his palm.