We walked over to a large castle. We really leaped, as were moon walking combined with our floating, so we got there in no time. We climbed up a spiral staircase that went on forever, Jack carrying me at some point against my will- bridal style, I might add- and we finally came to the top of the watchtower, which had a huge telescope. I peered through it for a second and I saw the whole Earth. I though of the Warren, and my view spun and whirled, zooming so crazily it made me dizzy. Then it focused in on the Warren, and I could see every petal, every minuscule bump on every egg. It was overwhelming. "Wow," I breathed. I moved my head out of the way so Jack could look, and he stood right behind me, reaching his arms around me to grasp the telescope. I rolled my eyes at how clićhe we were becoming, but every girl needs a little clićhe, right? Please say I'm right. Otherwise I'm turning into one of those mushy-gushy clingy girls who I always want to punch in the face when I see them swooning over boys.


"Wow. This place is awesome!" Jack pulled his arms away and stood up straight.


I took a good look around the castle. The whole place was white, with silver accents everywhere. We were in a turret-tower-thingy, high above the rest of the palace, which was massive. "Yeah. I can't believe you get to live here!" I pouted.


"Uh-huh, you only get to live on the sun in your spectacular sun palace, being the hottest person ever."


"I already knew I was attractive, but thank you anyway," I said simply, tugging at my sundress.


"Shut up. You know what I meant."


"I know."


"That actually was how I meant it this time."


"Quit complementing me. It's making me feel uncomfortable." I fidgeted and tugged at my dress more.


He stared at me mockingly, his eyes practically bugging out of his head. "Is this better?"


"No. Stop it, you," I said, scowling lightly, turning my back. I shivered slightly, the cold of this place wasn't helping, and neither was keeping all my warmth in my bracelet. I let some out heat and it washed over me like a warm blanket, my skin glowing slightly brighter, my hair swishing a little. It was longer than it used to be, down to my chin, and it hung flat.


"So now I can't compliment you?"


"No. You can't."


"Come on. Just let me say-"


"No."


"You're beautiful."


"Who paid you? Just call the Guardians already, and get on with it." I pouted slightly and watched as he sat down in a swiveling captain's seat, a complicated array of buttons and knobs and levers in front of him, but he went for simple. He flipped up a plastic cover and slammed a large button with his fist, making me jump as the plastic cracked and frost spread everywhere. "Whoa, Jack, chill. Er, sorry, bad word choice. Just relax." I placed my hands on his cheeks and tilted his head up, tilting my head down and kissing him. "Don't let it get to you. You can let it all out later, in training, just not on the console-thingy. It's important or something." I ruffled his hair and leaned on the back of his chair, watching a large array of monitors in front of him.


There was Bunnymund's Warren on one screen, Tooth's Palace on another, Sandy on a third, North's Workshop on a fourth, and there was one aimed at Burgess and one pointed at the sun, probably on the lookout for Jack and I.


"What's that?" I asked, squinting at Tooth's monitor, stretching my arm over his shoulder to point at a part of the screen.


It was Tooth, examining two empty spots in her wall of teeth. She snarled in anger and punched the column, her knuckles dripping blood. "Damn! Now he knows about June! Dammit, dammit, dammit! Now he'll remember her! He even took her goddamn memories too! Fuck!" She kicked the column and then clutched her foot, wincing in pain.


"Whoa." I was impressed. "Tooth has quite a mouth on her. I might actually respect her now."


"She shouldn't be doing that. She's usually very even-tempered. And as Guardians, we aren't allowed to curse. I said 'crap' once, you really rubbed off on me in those three hundred years, and North locked me in a closet for three hours. I snuck out, but he was really steamed." He glanced at me. "So don't curse in front of them when you're being sworn in."


"Fuck that. It literally says 'swear' in 'sworn in', I'm definitely going to curse."


"I don't remember you being this rebellious back in the 1700's."


I rolled my eyes and ruffled his hair again. "Exactly. Plus, I was blind, so I'm making up for it now. Classic rebel without a cause, with a side of awesomeness."


"No, I'm the classic rebel without a cause with a side of awesomeness. You're the girlfriend of said classic rebel without a cause plus a side of awesomeness, with an extra helping of sarcasm and sass."


"Yes, I am very sassy. Glad you finally got your priorities straight." I rolled my eyes. I've been doing a lot of that lately.


"But do you agree that you're my girlfriend?" I could almost see his smirk and raised eyebrow.


"I suppose so. And I'm wearing a dress!" I warned, knowing he was up to something.


Jack swiveled fast in his chair, sticking out his legs and making me fall into his lap as he spun back around to face the monitors. He played with my hair as we watched North press down on the lever that summoned the Guardians, everyone leaving and arriving at the Pole quickly. "Aww, do you have to leave?" I made a sad face.


"No. I'm usually late for these meetings. Plus I'm in the middle of braiding your hair, so don't move." A moment later, "June! Hold still!" I sat perfectly still as he finished with my hair and I leaned back against his frigid chest.


"So now what? We just watch?"


"No, now we are the masterminds. We are the puppeteers. We get to control everything." He got a mischievous look on his face that matched mine.


"So you're saying we mess with Bunny?"


He nodded in confirmation. "Exactly."


I sighed contentedly and grabbed his hands, examining them and comparing mine to his. "I knew there was a reason I loved you."


"Besides my amazing charm and stunning looks?"


"Sure. Keep telling yourself that, Jack." His hands could practically cover mine completely, I was so much smaller. "So do we mess up the cycles of day and night in his Warren? Or freeze and melt his flowers?"


"We could make him freezing cold in the Warren and overheating at the Pole," he suggested.


I grinned. "Perfect."