Pitch, having finished his apple (with Onyx's help), returned to Tooth in the garden for the next session.
Onyx wanted her to stay. With the Nightmares being part of him that meant he wanted her to stay.
Or did it?
He shook his head.
For all he knew this was a side effect of that disgusting love magic!
He had to ignore it. Yes, ignore it.
He had said it to Candy himself: 'I am incapable of love'.
Tolerating Tooth's presence was not the same as wanting to be with her.

As Pitch entered, Tooth took a deep, quiet breath.
Time to be professional again. Don't get too close.
Don't forget who you're dealing with!
Even though that robe shows off a bit of his chest. And he had smelt of jasmine when he had leaned in for that kiss. And-

'Are you alright?' Pitch asks, sitting beside her on the stone bench.
'Of course!' Tooth chirped, 'Why?'
'Your face is red. Thought the bath might have been too hot', Pitch said.
'No no the water was fine!' Tooth said, 'Shall we continue?'
She offered her hand and Pitch took it.
Both felt the familiar falling sensation and slipped into each other's memories once more.

Pitch materialized outside Tooth's temple.
He saw what looked like soldiers standing guard outside the entrance, spears gleaming in the torch light. A red flag flew on the end of a long banner: a golden monkey head growling.
Knowing they would pay him no mind, Pitch followed the pilot light into the temple without delay.
He found the antechamber and noticed a grotesque creature squatting on a decapitated statue's head.
It wore fine silk robes and rings on its gnarled fingers. It had a wizened face with a long trailing white beard growing from its saggy chin. Its arms were longer than it's hunched body and as Pitch watched, it scratched its right leg with its hand like left foot. A golden turban rested on its head with a blue jewel in its centre. When it smiled, its teeth were yellow and curved.

'I told you, I can't help you!'

The sound of Tooth's voice attracted Pitch's attention.
She was standing below the statue head, her own head upturned defiantly. She was facing a line of soldiers that stood between her and the strange 'Monkey King' on the statue.

'The daughters didn't teach me about curses!' Tooth said, 'I don't even know who you are!'

'So I have travelled all this way and you tell me that', the Monkey King said, counting on his fingers, 'I cannot be cured because they are all dead and I cannot have my vengeance because they are all dead and what's worse you know nothing about me because, once again, they are all dead?!'

'Not all of them', Tooth said with fire in her voice.

'Hah! You are nothing but a little bird who cannot even fly!' the Monkey King taunted, 'Perhaps I will keep you in a cage to sing to me at night. But a new pet seems a poor prize for having come all this way'.

'You seem destined for disappointment', Tooth sniped, 'This temple does not reward the wicked'.

'But it does have rewards', the Monkey King said, curved teeth showing, 'The villagers speak of the treasures held in this temple. Given freely by the daughters to them. Why should a filthy peasant be worthy of your charity but not me?'

'Because they are not mine to give', Tooth retorted, 'They belong to the villagers'.

'It will grieve you then to learn they are all dead'.

Tooth's jaw dropped.

'It's all their fault anyway. I came here all those years ago looking for a bride and they pointed me to this temple. I try to take one of the daughters for a wife, lucky girl, and they decide to curse me! So now I look like this! I have fleas! I stink! And still I have no wife. So, to make sure the pretty baubles do not get lonely like I am, tell me where they are'.

Tooth said nothing, still trying to process what the King had said but her eyes flicked to the garden.
Unfortunately the King noticed.

'Ah!' he said happily eyeing the garden, 'Buried are they?'

'No!' Tooth cried.

The King acrobatically leapt down from his statue perch and picked up a long trailing vine. Tooth gasped in outrage as he pulled it. It didn't budge.

'Disgusting things', the King dismissed and clicked his fingers at his men, 'Bring me a torch!'

'You can't!' Tooth yelled, trying to get closer to the King despite the swords in front of her. One of the other soldiers handed the King a blazing torch.

'Then you do it!' the King said, offering Tooth the torch.

'Please stop!' Tooth pleaded desperately, dropping to her knees, 'I'm begging you!'

'So the proud daughters can be taught humility', the King laughed, stroking his long, trailing beard, 'The mighty Rajah hears your pleas for mercy'.

Tooth lowered her head in gratitude.

'But deems them worthless!' the Monkey King declared, gesturing at his stumpy body, 'Just as your sisters did when they did this to me!'

Tooth gave a horrified cry as the King threw the brand onto the flowers. They crackled and sizzled as the flames began to climb. The King watched in satisfaction but Pitch was staring at Tooth.
After that single cry, she had gone silent, head bowed.
The air was thick with perfumed scents as the flowers burned.
The King adjusted his belt in smug satisfaction and used one of his long fingers to raise Tooth's chin, keen to see her expression.
Only to be disappointed.
Tooth's face was blank with dead eyes.
The King scoffed and turned away, watching the flames.
Only Pitch watched Tooth's fingers curl into fists or her mouth tighten as her eyes focused hard on the King's back.
He felt a drop of rain fall and only on looking up did he realise the sky had darkened. Black clouds swirled above on a grey sky and the rain was getting heavier by the minute.
The Monkey King felt it too and raised his hands, enjoying the deluge.
'See men? The gods smile on my victory! Soon the ground will be easier to dig!'
'The gods are watching', came a quiet voice, 'But they do not smile on you'.
Tooth was standing up, her robe stained dark by the rain.
The wind was intensifying, roaring through the windows carved into the temple walls.
'What is happening?!' the king demanded, 'Seize the fairy!'
Two men surged forward to do the King's bidding.
One lunged for Tooth but she leapt easily over his shoulder.
The second thrust a long spear at her but she yanked it forward and used it to deliver a strong kick to the soldier's face. He was thrown back, nose gushing blood.
Wheeling around, she met the first soldier's sword thrust with the spear. Knocking the sword out of his hand, she smashed him over the head with the butt of the spear. He collapsed, unconscious as the other.
She dropped the spear and tumbled forward, snatching the sword.
She was on the Monkey King before he could do anything. She grabbed the collar of his fine robes in one hand and held the sword to his throat with the other.
The other soldiers moved from one foot to another, keen to intervene but conscious of the danger their monarch was in.
'Stop! I command you!' the King yelled in impotent rage.
Despite her frailty, he couldn't seem to free himself from Tooth's grip.
'You cannot kill me! I am the almighty Rajah!' he shrieked desperately, 'My name will echo for a thousand years!'
'Your screams in the underworld will too', Tooth snarled.
She plunged the sword into his chest.
The corner of the Monkey King's face twitched. His body convulsed once, his bony fingers twitching spasmodically. Then he fell face down into the dirt which had turned to mud in the rain.
Tooth barely seemed to notice as she turned her attention to the soldiers.
She screamed and the noise was like a gigantic bird of prey.
The winds whipped up and struck at the soldiers, smacking them into walls and causing rubble to rain down from the open ceiling. Her robe flapped around her like tattered wings and her eyes shone like lightning in the darkened room.
'Begone!' Tooth screeched, raising her sword threateningly.
The soldiers didn't need to be told twice. They fled, stumbling over each other in a desperate rush to flee the demon of the temple even as the two who had been wounded were dragged out by their comrades.
Pitch knew that kind of run. They wouldn't be back.
Tooth stayed in that same position, even after the last soldier had left.
Her chest was heaving and her teeth were still set in a savage snarl.
Then, the howling of the wind began to die down, blowing the rain across the temple floor.
Tooth followed its path to the slumped body of the Monkey King.
She blinked and lowered the sword.
Then dropped it.
As if the strings had been cut on a puppet, she collapsed to her knees and began to sob. Her fingers gripped the earth, leaving dark grooves. It seemed to reinforce the fact her garden was gone and she hugged herself as tears fell down her sooty cheeks. Her scorched feathers were being soaked with rainwater, causing them to droop sadly as tiny rivulets of water ran down them.
Pitch moved closer and realised Tooth was whispering.

'I didn't mean it', she said softly between sobs, 'What have I done? It's all gone'.

Pitch touched her shoulder gently, finding the gesture easier knowing she couldn't feel his hand. The petite shoulders beneath his fingers shook as Tooth released her grief.
It stirred something in him. A strange resonance he had never felt before.
He wondered, if he touched her like this as the Boogeyman would she recoil from him?
The thought bothered him more than it should have.
Tooth's head lifting suddenly broke through his melancholy thoughts.
A group of people were entering the temple. Pitch recognised them as the villagers because of their bright clothing and obvious nervousness at entering the temple.
Leading the way was the priestess Pitch had seen in the previous memory, her dark hair now streaked with grey. Her smile had lost none of its warmth however as she approached Tooth.
Tooth looked back at her with amazement. Both at the fact the villagers were still alive and because the Priestess was looking right at her.
Tooth stood, obviously self-conscious of her tattered feathers and the mess of the temple but unable to do anything about either.
The Priestess bent over slightly so she and Tooth were looking eye to eye and handed the fairy something.
Tooth looked in her palm to find a flower lying open. Despite its slightly tattered edges and faded colour, it was beautiful with large petals and a faint, summery scent.
Tooth looked at the Priestess in wonder, lilac eyes still wet with tears.
'We remember', the Priestess said, beckoning the other villagers forward.
Each one held a flower in their hands.
Children held small saplings and tiny blossoms. Even the village elders, stooped and wrinkled, produced withered flowers that still held the memory of their colours.
A hundred people. A hundred lifetimes worth of memories. All gifts she had given.
The Priestess gently steered Tooth away from the ruin of the garden. They and Pitch watched as each one placed their blossoms onto the dark earth.
One by one, each blossom was magically absorbed into the earth as gently sparkling multi-coloured diamonds until none remained.
Then the ground erupted with a flood of colour as flowers burst from the earth. They grew tall and even more beautiful than before, towering above the heads of all those present.
The garden was reborn.
As Tooth flitted about, counting every blossom joyously, lilac light began to surround her.
Pitch watched as Tooth began to rise into the air, eyes widening as she detected the new magic.
Her wings opened and the magic shone through illuminating the whole room in rainbow coloured light. They grew until they began to flap, keeping Tooth elevated off the ground even as the light began to die away.
Pitch thought he had never seen such a beautiful thing in his life.
As Tooth lowered herself down, getting used to her new wings, Pitch noticed her body feathers had been rejuvenated. She had also increased slightly in height: an adult daughter of the sky now.
She landed as a small figure parted the crowd.
Pitch saw it was Sandy.

'Who are you?' Tooth asked.

The little man looked to the Priestess.

'He led us to safety from the soldiers', the Priestess explained, 'Then to you'.

'Thank you', Tooth said, 'Both of you'.

Sandy held up a hand, soundlessly indicating no thanks were needed.

'What's your name?' Tooth asked.

Sandy produced a fistful of dreamsand and handed it to Tooth. She examined the golden grains.

'Sandy?' she guessed.

Sandy nodded and clapped.

'He does not talk much does he?' the Priestess commented.

'I don't understand. How can you all see me?'

'Sandy and I helped them remember you', the Priestess said, 'You have been watching us all this time. It was time for this village to help you. We will care for this place now'.

'But where will I go?' Tooth asked, 'This is my home'.

'I think Sandy has someone he would like you to meet', the Priestess said, 'Besides your wings have grown. All daughters leave the nest one day'.

Tooth looked at Sandy who smiled at her. Despite her sadness, Pitch could see her smiling back as she took his hand.

Together, they began to rise into the calm evening sky, Tooth flapping her new wings to keep pace with Sandy's effortless floating.
Pitch saw Tooth look back once at the waving villagers.

'We will not forget again', the Priestess called reassuringly.

Then Tooth was gone, racing to keep up with Sandy as she left the jungle behind forever.

Tooth woke up standing on soft grass.
Looking around, she saw a grey stone wall that lead to a pair of large iron gates. Up a stone path, she could see a mansion surrounded by the same kind of trees that dominated Pitch's garden in his lair. She saw a figure walk up to the gates and they opened automatically at his approach.
It was Pitchiner in his uniform with a duffel bag over his shoulder.
The uniform was not as clean and well-kept as it had been in the last memory. The cape was ragged around the bottom and the metal of his armour showed dents and scrapes. Pitchiner himself looked tired with dark bags under his eyes and he walked more like Pitch: as if carrying an invisible weight.
Tooth saw a figure approaching from the house and as she flew closer she saw Pitchiner make a visible effort to straighten up.
His smile was genuine though as he ran up the path towards the figure, nearly dropping his duffel bag.
Tooth saw the figure was a little girl with Pitchiner's dark hair. She wore a light green dress and polished shoes. She was laughing as Pitchiner scooped her up, her slim frame easily fitting in his long arms.
Pitchiner kissed her head and closed his eyes.
'Hello Emily', he said in a voice thick with emotion.
'You're back Daddy!' Emily yelled happily.
Pitchiner raised her high above his head and she spread her arms in delight, pretending to fly.
Tooth smiled. It was nice that Pitch had been happy once, in one form or another.
As father and daughter played together, another figure approached.
A woman with long dark hair and bright blue eyes was coming down the path. Like Emily, she wore a light green dress with a silver moon shaped hairpin nestled in her hair.
Pitchiner noticed her approach and put Emily down.
The woman smiled at the pair fondly and whooped in delight as Pitchiner picked her up and spun her around.
'Stop Kozmotis!' she said through laughter, 'You'll crease my dress!'
'To hades with your dress Sera', Pitchiner laughed, burying his face in her neck.
As the woman called Sera giggled, Tooth realised this was Serafina, Pitchiner's wife.
'Alright put me down you pirate!' Serafina commanded, 'Let's hear all about your adventures inside!'
Pitchiner smiled mischievously and threw her over his shoulder.
'This is how a pirate treats his lady', Pitchiner said with relish, 'Coming Captain Emily?'
'Aye aye sir!' Emily responded, saluting and following them into the house.
The memory blurred and Tooth found herself in a room inside the mansion. Judging from the stars outside the window, several hours had passed.
The room was painted pink with delicate flowers in vase on the windowsill. The décor was completely at odds with the rest of the room though. Clothes lay scattered on the floor and several books sat half opened. Toy soldiers were set up in a surprisingly tidy fashion assaulting a toy castle and models of strange ships hung from the ceiling. It was a child's room: Emily's room.
Pitchiner, still in his armour was sitting on Emily's bed as she scrambled inside the covers.
As she settled down, he reached into his cloak and produced a small doll dressed as a pirate.
'I brought you this'.
Emily took the doll and cocked an eyebrow in a facial expression eerily similar to Pitch's.
'Don't look at me like that', Pitchiner said, 'You know it's for your mother's sake'.
Checking the room as if searching for spies, he unbuckled a small knife from his belt and offered it to her. Her eyes lit up in wonder as he offered the hilt to her.
'It's moonlight steel', Pitchiner explained, 'Don't tell your mother'.
'It's for me?' Emily asked, pulling it slightly out of its scabbard, wondering at the light it gave off.
'Yes but you mustn't use it until I show you how'.
'When? When?!' Emily asked, excited.
'We start tomorrow', Pitchiner said, 'Bright and early. Your mother asks, we're going horse riding'.
'We are still going horse riding though aren't we?' Emily asked.
'Of course. How else are we going to practice without being seen?' Pitchiner winked.
Emily laughed and hid the knife under her bed.
She threw her arms around her father and he stroked her hair.
Then to Tooth's surprise, he began to sing.
His voice was melodic and gentle as he lulled his daughter to sleep.
Tooth memorised the words as Pitchiner sang.

Time to close your eyes
Overlook the darkness
And try to dream tonight
Not so long ago
Your world was bright
So take a breath and count to ten
And maybe you can dream again

The song was magic, no doubt about that, she could sense the etheric emotions of rest and healing tied into the words while the tune created a peaceful atmosphere. It was a common magic, one that even humans could unconsciously harness sometimes but the way Pitchiner used it could have soothed a raging bear.
Tooth knew the song wasn't a happy one. Pitchiner was singing about melancholy and trying to recapture the joys of childhood but Emily didn't seem to notice.
By the time Pitchiner finished, Emily was fast asleep.
Pitchiner got up and closed her door just as Tooth managed to squeeze through.
His and Lady Pitchiner's bedchamber was just across the way.
It was a grand room with a gigantic four poster bed. Serafina was sitting on it.
'Is she asleep?' she asked.
Pitchiner nodded and began to take his boot off.
'How long then?' Serafina asked.
Pitchiner was hanging his cape up on a mannequin set up in a cabinet.
'Two days', he said, examining the holes in the cape critically, 'Then we set sail'.
'Is this it?'
Pitchiner nodded gravely and Serafina covered her mouth.
'It's been too long coming Sera', he said, 'We should have attacked his castle the moment his forces started harassing our ships'.
'Is he as terrifying as they say?'
'According to the Nightmares, I'm pretty terrifying' Pitchiner joked feebly, 'Either way we're going to find out'.
'You sound almost as if you're looking forward to it', Serafina said carefully.
Pitchiner sat beside her and touched her hand.
'I'm looking forward to finishing what we've started', Pitchiner said,' Then coming home to you'.
Serafina nodded. Pitchiner touched her cheek.
'I will be coming home', he said solemnly, 'We all will'.
'Of course you will. You're you', she smiled sadly.
Pitchiner grabbed her suddenly and kissed her.
Tooth averted her eyes, suddenly conscious she was witnessing what was supposed to be a private moment.
'We'll wait for you', Serafina finished, tears in her eyes.

Once again, Tooth and Pitch came to at the same time.
'Don't look so sad', Pitch said, 'You did the right thing'.
'It didn't feel right', Tooth replied, realising Pitch had mistaken her sympathy for Pitchiner's family for guilt over the death of the Monkey King, 'He won: he made me like him'.
'That beast was your enemy', Pitch stated matter of factly, 'Therefore he needed to be destroyed'.
'You were an enemy once too', Tooth said.
'Were?'
'We're getting along okay now aren't we?' Tooth asked with a reconciliatory smile.
'Because we need each other right now', Pitch said.
Tooth thought he sounded almost sad but decided it was probably just her imagination. Her feelings about Pitchiner leaving his family were likely clouding her judgment.
'Did Pitchiner ever see his family again?' she asked, the image of Emily at the forefront of her mind.
'I neither remember nor care what happened to a dead man's family', Pitch said stiffly before groaning, 'I just wish this stupid song would get out of my head!'
'That lullaby?' Tooth asked as understanding dawned, 'You weren't telling the truth in the music store were you? You heard that lullaby when Candy was singing'.
'Yes', Pitch admitted, 'but it's reared its ugly head in the past'.
'When do you usually hear it?
'When I'm angry. Or in pain'.
It made sense. Pitch heard the lullaby when Candy sang as the closest thing her music could latch onto was Pitchiner's song for his daughter. Pitch really had no happy memories she could us to manipulate him.
'Have you ever had anybody like he did?' Tooth asked.
'No', Pitch said but then his eyes suddenly narrowed, 'Why are you looking at me like that?!'
'Like what?' Tooth asked, worried by his change in demeanour.
'Don't you dare look at me like that!' Pitch snapped, leaping up, finger pointed accusingly, 'With that sickening pity! I don't want or need it!'
'I didn't mean-' Tooth began but Pitch interrupted.
'In fact, forget Pitchiner, why are you pretending our past never happened?! I killed Sandy! I tried to kill you! Why the hell are you looking at me like you're sorry for me?!'
Despite the obvious rage in Pitch's voice, Tooth could sense the genuine confusion at her questions.
She hadn't meant to look at him with pity but it saddened her that any creature should be alone. She had been in that place herself. It had been easy in the past to write Pitch off as a spiteful creature who loved the dark but now, actually spending time with him, Tooth was keenly aware what a black and white view of things this had been. He wasn't the complete monster she had been told he was.
'Aren't you tired of fighting Pitch?' she asked, 'I've learnt more about you in one day than in hundreds of years of fighting. Don't you think that it might be time to stop?'
Pitch gave a sour laugh and smiled venomously.
'Maybe when the Man in the Moon comes down off his throne and apologizes on his knees to me for the wrong he has done me, then I might stop!' he snarled, 'I am not to blame for what I am!'
'I don't blame you', Tooth said.
This surprised her as much as he did Pitch who practically screamed, 'Why not?!'
'Because it's who you are', Tooth said simply and extended her hand.
Pitch looked at the outstretched hand, eyes wide. Then he recovered himself and took it without a word. Tooth felt his hand trembling within hers as they entered the mindscape again.

Tooth nearly collided with a dancing couple as she emerged into Pitchiner's memory.
Flying up to avoid another, she saw she was in a ballroom. White marble pillars rose to the roof which was painted to resemble the signs of the zodiac chasing each other. Tall windows showed a space vista with ships similar to the galleon Pitchiner had commanded sailing through the star streaked skies. The room was full of people dressed in fine clothes and silver jewellery laughing and dancing as a band played string music on instruments Tooth didn't recognise.
Tooth found Pitchiner leaning against one of the pillars with a fizzy drink in his hand.
As she watched he knocked it back.
He was wearing what she assumed was a dress uniform: it was a soft black with silver brocade and buttons. Medals bedecked his right breast and he still wore his cloak clasp at his throat.
He also had a new vivid scar over his left eye resembling two long claw marks. More seriously, she saw he was leaning on a pale wooden cane. By the looks of things the assault on the Nightmare King's castle was over and Pitchiner was still (just about) standing.
'Alone tonight General?' asked a passing party goer, 'Where are Lady Pitchiner and Lady Emily?'
Pitchiner smiled but Tooth could tell there was no happiness in it.
'It's unsafe to travel from the mansion when the lunar defences are down for reconfiguring', Pitchiner said, 'Lady Pitchiner would have loved to have been here'.
'I should say so, especially since the party's in your honour', the guest commented, 'Couldn't they have rescheduled this little soiree to allow them to attend?'
'I declined the offer'.
'Whatever for?'
'It would've meant postponing the upgrade to the Imperial defences. Didn't want to risk it. Emily doesn't enjoy parties anyway'.
By the look of things neither do you, Tooth thought.
'Don't be so paranoid!' the party goer said, 'Try and enjoy yerself will you? After all, thanks to you, the war's over!'
Pitchiner nodded as the party goer left to speak to a group waving him over from the other side of the room.
Pitchiner put his drink down on a nearby pillar. Turning slightly to get his cane into position, he began to head for the door.
Someone stepped in his path and Tooth gave an excited gasp.
'Captain', Pitchiner acknowledged with a genuine smile this time.
Sandy gave a small salute and smiled. He was wearing a golden robe that trailed along the ballroom floor and Tooth saw a selection of medals shining on his chest too. Humorously he also had a bushy moustache.
'You lasted longer than I thought', Sandy said, oblivious to Tooth's jaw dropping at the sound of his voice, 'That makes thirty minutes. During which you've drank three glasses of champagne, avoided every offer to dance and made yourself into an attractive wall fixture'.
'Still keeping tabs on me Sandy?' Pitchiner said.
'A friendly eye', Sandy corrected, 'To help you navigate the tricky trenches of social interaction with the rich and famous'.
'You're not the boss of me anymore Sandy', Pitchiner said jokingly, 'It's my party, I'll be a depressing bastard if I want to'.
'Maybe but stow it. You're to come with me: the Tsar wants to see you'.
'What is it?' Pitchiner asked, all hints of joking gone.
'Relax', Sandy said, 'He just wants to speak to you in person before he makes the speech announcing the end of the war'.
'Good. Perhaps I can convince him not to make it', Pitchiner groused as he and Sandy walked up a flight of stairs.
'Worried about getting fat in peacetime?' Sandy asked.
'Well we're practically a 'before' and 'after' shot aren't we?' Pitchiner said.
'I earned my retirement you young pup', Sandy said giving Pitchiner a light punch on the arm, 'Besides why do they need me when they have General Kozmotis Pitchiner, hero of the Lunar Imperium leading the way?'
Pitchiner groaned.
'They're still shoving that down people's throats then'.
'And that painting of you standing over the Nightmare King holding that black heart of his in your hand', Sandy confirmed, 'I imagine it was messier than it appears'.
The pair halted in front of a pair of double doors. On the doors was a crest that matched the image on Pitchiner's cloak clasp and the medal on Sandy's chest.
'Sandy, the canvas would have to be pitch black it was that 'messy'', Pitchiner said.

Tsar Lunar was lying on a chaise longue in a light blue robe. His beard and long hair were wispy and white with silver streaks. A pair of pinch nez glasses sat on his long nose as he regarded the two soldier with rheumy eyes. He was frail and beckoned Pitchiner over with a bony claw like hand.
Pitchiner and Sandy both bowed.
'The hero of the hour', the Tsar smiled, showing surprisingly strong, white teeth, 'You have done well General'.
'Thank you my lord', Pitchiner said, straightening.
'Glad to be home?' the Tsar asked and winked, 'Back with the good lady?'
'Yes my lord'.
'I'm so glad to hear that since you will be staying right here in the Imperium for a while. We need you here more than ever'.
'With all due respect my lord, there are still Nightmare Pirates out there raiding the outer territories. I fear the death of the Nightmare King has made them quite desperate'.
'Nonsense!' the Tsar croaked, 'Our scientists have assured me the Nightmares operate on a hive mind. With their leader dead they are disorganized and will soon fade away like the bad dreams they are'.
'I have seen no evidence of-'
'But I have Pitchiner. Do you doubt me?'
Tooth could see Pitchiner biting his tongue so clearly it was if she had x-ray vision.
'No my lord' came the General's reply.
'Good', the Tsar said, clasping his hands together, 'That is exactly why I have chosen you for this task. I wouldn't entrust it to anyone else'.
'What task is that my lord?' Pitchiner asked.
'I believe you're quite familiar with the Black Cells?'
'With their function yes but I've never actually visited-'
'Splendid. Damndest thing but we just can't seem to keep guards in the place. All end up either scared out of their wits, babbling on the floor or worse'.
'You want me to find out what is causing this?' Pitchiner suggested.
'Oh dear boy, we know what's causing it!' the Tsar exclaimed, 'All those rotten creatures in one place, well it's bound to happen! We want you to see about stopping it'.
'You've come round to my suggestion then my lord?' Pitchiner asked, showing the first trace of enthusiasm since entering the room.
'What suggestion is that?'
'I'm sorry my lord, I thought I had suggested it to you several times', Pitchiner said in a tone of voice that said he obviously had, 'That the Nightmare Pirates we have in custody be executed for crimes against-'
'By the gods no!' the Tsar cried, 'We are not savages Pitchiner! They're prisoners of war and will be treated as such. That being said, they're the ones I'm worried about. That's why I want you there keeping an eye on them, not chasing some stubborn shadows around the galaxy who are too dim to realise their time's up!'
'My lord, I need to be out there!' Pitchiner snapped.
'But I need you here', the Tsar said quietly, 'Seems like an impasse eh?'
Pitchiner looked to Sandy who looked at the Tsar warningly and gave a slight shake of the head. The threat in the Tsar's voice was obvious despite his reasonable façade.
'No my lord', Pitchiner said through gritted teeth.
'Excellent', the Tsar said, ringing a nearby bell pull.
A young maid entered and helped the Tsar into a silver wheelchair.
As she adjusted his cushions, the Tsar said, 'Sandy will give you the particulars and I'll incorporate your new post into my speech. Kozmotis Pitchiner protecting the Imperium from within. Sounds good eh? See you downstairs'.
The Tsar was wheeled out and Sandy and Pitchiner were left alone.
'Now don't do anything-' Sandy began but stopped to grab a vase Pitchiner knocked over with his cane in anger.
'That idiotic old man!' Pitchiner snapped, 'What does he want me to be?!'
'Between you and me, he wants you out of the way', Sandy said, setting the vase down gently.
'Fine job he's doing of it splattering my image all over the place and praising my name as if I won the war single handed!' Pitchiner snapped.
'He's doing that to provide the people with closure'.
'Did you have anything to do with this?'
'Only in that I agreed you were the best soldier we currently have and that you are not afraid of Nightmares'.
'Who says I'm not afraid?!'
'That's not the point. The point is you don't look afraid'.
Pitchiner laughed bitterly.
'So I fight for the Imperium and my reward is to be locked up with the very creatures I was fighting. Is the Tsar afraid of me too?'
'He's afraid of the sway you have over the men and the people'.
'I have only ever been loyal to the Imperium and sometimes that means questioning the decisions of those who are in charge! You taught me that!'
'In the Tsar's mind, that is not the same as loyalty to him. But despite all that son, do think about it'.
'Name me one benefit of taking this dead end of a position!'
'You would be closer to your family. No more months of sailing to gods-knows-where chasing gods-knows-what. You could see Emily grow up. You wouldn't be in the Black Cells all the time you know'.
Pitchiner said nothing. Tooth could tell from his face he was considering his options.
'The Tsar has made it clear it's this or retirement', Sandy said seriously, 'Between you and me, I don't think you'd know what to do with yourself as a civilian'.
'I hate it when you're right. Fine', Pitchiner said, 'I'll do my duty. The Tsar wants loyalty, he'll have the servant he wishes'.

Meanwhile, Pitch was surprised to find he knew exactly where he was.
The dank cavern was an old hideout of his in Romania. He had amused himself for a while here centuries ago, tormenting the local villagers with illusions of giant wolves and bats.
The pilot light illuminated the cavern and he saw his past self sitting on a rock picking his uneven teeth with a shard of bone.
That's right.
He had lost a tooth that night.
The rat he had caught for a snack had gotten its revenge: he had dislodged a tooth on one of its small bones.
Judging from the soft footsteps coming down the tunnel and the pilot light dissipating, he knew he had the right night.
His first meeting with Tooth.
As she emerged warily into the cavern, he remembered his first impressions of her keenly.
Fairies were weak and easy to scare as a rule but here was one walking right into the lion's den.
He had been annoyed at first but then intrigued.
These feelings were mirrored in his past self who didn't bother using the shadows. He was convinced the dainty figure was not a threat despite the sword hanging at her waist.
'Do you know who I am?' the past Pitch asked, drawing himself up to full height.
Tooth drew her sword.
Past Pitch smiled.
'And yet you come into my lair uninvited? Why?'
'The tooth', Tooth said.
'So you're the one I've been hearing about', Pitch said, impressed, 'the one who sneaks into little children's bedrooms and takes their teeth while they sleep. I approve'.
'It's not like that'.
'That's a shame. It made you delightfully interesting'.
'Wish I could say the same for you'.
'Now now', Pitch said, amused by the fairy's feistiness, 'You're hoping to get my tooth remember? I just want to know why. I was rather attached to it you know'.
'I'm the Guardian of Memories. It's my job'.
Pitch saw Tooth's fingers tighten on her sword as his past self gave a rasping growl.
'A Guardian? Sandy sent you?'
Tooth nodded.
'Still afraid of me then?' he taunted.
Pitch, like his past self, noted the angry way Tooth's feathers rose up.
'He's busy', she said, 'Too busy to deal with the likes of you'.
'So he would rather hide behind your feathered skirts rather than come himself', Pitch clicked his tongue, 'It's sad he hasn't got the courage to face his own mistakes'.
'I didn't come here to talk about Sandy', Tooth said firmly, 'I came here to ask you for your tooth. If you won't give it to me, I'll take it'.
'No need for that', Pitch said, holding up his hands, 'I have plenty more'.
Reaching into an unseen pocket in his robe, he held the tooth up between his thumb and forefinger.
He held it out to her.
Sheathing her sword, Tooth walked slowly towards Pitch, keeping a careful eye open for any sudden moves.
'Thank you', Tooth said, 'I'll be back if any more happen to fall out. The Man in the Moon doesn't want them lying around'.
Tooth reached for the tooth and gasped when the fingers of Pitch's other hand closed around hers.
'I hope you can handle them little fairy'.
Opening her fingers, he delicately placed the tooth on her palm and closed her fingers over it.
Pitch leant in close and whispered in her ear.
The Pitch watching couldn't hear what he said but remembered it vividly.
'Just because they're not in my mouth doesn't mean they can't bite'.
With a playful bite near her ear that made her jerk backwards, Pitch released her.
Tooth flew out of the lair as Pitch glared skywards, arms outstretched.
'Is that the best you have?!' he shouted.
The pilot light reappeared and Pitch followed it down the tunnel Tooth had left through, leaving his past self in the darkness.
Outside he saw Tooth leaning against a tree, panting. He could see sweat on her forehead but pure relief on her face as she looked at the tooth in her hands. That relief however began to fade as she began to focus on the memories in the tooth. Pitch saw her mouth open in horror as she felt the presence inside the enamel. She closed her fingers over the tooth again, shaken by whatever she had seen and took flight.
Pitch watched her leave.
There had been so much fear in her face. It would usually have been gratifying to him, fuelling him with strength but he just felt hollow. Despite her fear, she had kept collecting his teeth. Keeping them safe.
Only because the Man in the Moon had told her to though. No doubt another plot of his to try and control him in some way. But that wasn't Tooth's fault.
Pitch could feel the mindscape dissolving again, the memory he had just seen having confused rather than enlightened him.

Upon waking, Tooth saw Pitch now had a mark above his left eye: the same scar Pitchiner had.
Seeing Pitch touch his forehead, she knew he had noticed the same thing. He gave no sign it bothered him.
'You knew I was a Guardian', Tooth said as the memory Pitch had seen swam through her mind, 'Why let me go? I've always wondered that'.
'I didn't know what trouble Guardians were going to be', Pitch said, 'Also you interested me'.
'Interested you?'
Ignoring the potential double meaning of the phrase, Pitch clarified: 'You were afraid of me but still came into my lair. And then instead of attacking, you actually tried to reason with me'.
'I thought you liked people being afraid', Tooth said, drawing her knees up underneath her body.
'You have no idea how tiresome it is when the only people who seek you out want to kill you. Be it a warrior trying to 'slay the monster' or some priest deciding I need to be exorcised. You were a breath of fresh air. Everyone needs a change now and then'.
'It was wrong the way the Tsar treated y-', Tooth said but then corrected herself, 'treated Pitchiner'.
'Do you see now?' Pitch asked, 'The Tsars are in no position to be moral guardians of anything! They were making the wrong choices before I was even created!'
'Manny's not like his father though', Tooth protested, 'He only wants what's best for the children'.
'No. He wants to choose what's best for the children', Pitch insisted, 'Even if that means sacrificing someone; even a friend! The greater good isn't as clean as you think. A lot of red needs washed out before the cloth turns out white'.
'You say you know what Manny wants but what do you want Pitch?'
'Vengeance', Pitch said immediately, 'I thought I was clear about that'.
'Then what?' Tooth asked.
'What do you mean?'
'I mean aren't you tired of being angry all the time? You just said it yourself: 'everybody needs a change'. So, before we have to get back to destroying each other, if that's what you want, just think about it. Please?'
'I'm hungry', Pitch said and got up to leave.
Tooth didn't follow.
She was an idiot: she'd pushed him too hard and now he was going to shut her out completely.
'Well, are you coming?' Pitch called back, 'I'm only cooking dinner once'.
Tooth saw Pitch patiently waiting for her at the tunnel entrance.
Sighing in relief and nodding, she got up and they walked down the tunnel together.