Plans in Motion

As Nat's whistle finally stopped echoing through the towering trees, Jack could hear the flapping of great wings resounding from the ceiling of the cave. He glanced up, his hand shielding his eyes from the sunlight streaming in through the hold above, to see a massive form descending from above. With a startled cry, he stumbled back as a winged horse landed in the clearing and neatly folded its wings against its back. With a smirk, Nat gently ran a hand across its massive side, whispering to it softly.

"A Pegasus?" Jack squawked as he jumped to his feet and cautiously approached the horse. He reached out to pet it, but the creature whinnied and nipped at his hand; Jack retracted it hastily before he lost his fingers.

"Yes. There are many mythical creatures hiding within the wilds of the world; they were hunted nearly to extinction by humans, so I've hidden them from their sight so that they might live out their days in peace. Illithor is my faithful friend and companion," Nat explained as she climbed onto the Pegasus' back.

"Man, Jamie would freak if he saw you," Jack commented to the horse, then the two of them shot off into the sky.

The pair arrived to the North Pole in no time at all, and were greeted in the room containing the lighted globe by North and the other Guardians. The giant man strolled forward, offering his hand to Nat as her horse landed; with the grace of a princess, she took his hand and slid off of the Pegasus. The elves gathered around the creature, giggling and running around its ankles trying to catch its tail, much to Illithor's annoyance.

"Welcome, welcome! It is good to finally meet you, my dear," North smiled cheerfully. Tooth's fairies fluttered about Nat's head, chittering to each other and admiring her perfect teeth, and were soon joined by the head fairy herself as they all fawned over the girl's radiating beauty. A golden hand appeared over Sandy's head, and shyly waved as he glanced bashfully at the ground.

"Mother Nature, mate, it's good to see you're alright," Bunny beamed as he hopped over to her.

"Her name is Nat now," Jack chimed in, earning a seething glare from the girl. Nat crossed her arms with a huff, regarding Bunny coldly.

"You told Jack Frost about me?" she inquired, and Jack was sorely reminded that Nat harbored some sort of fierce grudge against him. What did I do to her? he thought miserably. Bunny's ears dropped and he wrung his paws anxiously as he realized that he had managed to land on the fickle girl's bad side.

"It was just because Pitch was after ya and all..." he pouted. Nat seemed to find this acceptable, and patted the giant rabbit's head to show her forgiveness.

"Good, now that we are all acquainted, it is time to go over plan. Obviously, Moth-, I mean, Nat- is in great danger, so Pitch must not get anywhere near her. She will be moved from place to place until he is captured," North announced.

"I won't be fighting?" the girl exclaimed in dismay, looking at Jack angrily. The white-haired boy threw up his hands in ignorance, crying, "I was just sent to fetch you!" Nat turned back to North, obviously dissatisfied. "You expect me to wait around while all of you go after Pitch? It's me that he's after!" she protested.

"Look, mate, we get that yer rarin' to go, but Pitch is one tough customer," Bunny admitted as he hopped over to her, nose twitching anxiously. "If he manages to grab ya, it's over."

"Don't underestimate me!" she growled, then gasped as North jabbed a finger into her chest.

"Out of question!" he barked, and Nat's face became crestfallen as she realized that she had lost the debate. Jack found himself feeling extremely sorry for her. If he had been in the same position, he would be just as upset. "We will take care of Pitch. We came too close to defeat last time, and it will not happen again. So be good girl and do as you are told," he continued sternly.

"Pitch won't be easy to find," Tooth sighed and flew over to North.

"Nah, he won't. He'll skulk about at the bottom of some deep, dark hole until he's ready to slither out," Bunny growled darkly.

"But we'll be ready this time!" Jack cried, gripping his staff tightly. His face was set with determination. "We'll protect you. We'll win," he continued, gazing at Nat. The girl hated him with a burning passion, and Jack wasn't sure why; regardless, he was determined to prove to the girl that he had some use, and to keep her out of Pitch's villainous clutches- no matter what it took.