Author's note-I don't own ROTG, but I do own Alecvander, Jo and Hauna.

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CHAPTER 4: NIGHTMARE.

Jo had just been about to take the charm when something burst through the wall as if it were thin air. Something big, black and menacingly tall. Hauna cried out in surprise and drew back, still clutching the string with the charm hanging from it as she ducked away from the creature. Jo tumbled backwards, catching hold on the edge of the table to stop himself from falling, barely missing the creature by and inch. Alecvander had been standing nearby and quickly moved out-of-the-way as well.

The creature halt at the other side of the room, and turned around dangerously to face them.

Jo's breath caught in his throat. A horse- like the one in his nightmare. Like the one Pitch...

"That's not possible! This place is protected!" Hauna gasped.

"Pitch!" Jo said in a high voice "He sent it!"

As soon as the words left his throat the Nightmare charged towards him. Before he could blink he found himself being butted in to stomach by it's head, then litfed up and thrown over it's back.

Jo collided with the hard floor, and all the breath was knocked from his lungs. He laid on the ground, winded, hearing the hooves draw closer once again. He curled up in a ball to protect himself, when-

"Stop right there, you creature of dust!"

He opened his eyes and saw a flurry of red sparks hit the menacing beast, and it drew away from him, neighing in fury.

Hauna's hands were outstretched, both blazing with red sparks. She through another handful towards the Nightmare, then another, bombarding it with fireballs. Jo scrambled to his feet and rejoined Alecvander beside her. For a split second Jo wondered if it was working, only for the Nightmare to raise up on its hindlegs and them slam it's hooves down incredibly hard, shaking the whole room and sending the three sprawling on the ground.

The horse sped forward and slammed its side against Hauna, sending her flying away from him. Alecvander stumbled back and being older and frailer than her, tripped easily and fell to the ground. Jo darted away from the horse before it could hit him. With another threatening whiny the nightmare advanced. Jo was about to cry out in terror when he saw something out of the corner of his eye: Hauna, throwing something his way.

The charm flew through the air, and the string looped around Jo's neck like a lucky horseshoe.

Abruptly the nightmare slammed its hoofs down and braked. It stopped just in front of him, neighing in fury and confusion.

Jo looked down at the charm, relief begining to calm his pounded heart. The Nightmare tried to get closer again, only to draw back, shaking its head as if it had hit something.

"It's working..." He said to himself, and he began to laugh a little. He spotted Hauna rushing over to assist Alecvander, who was trying to regain his footing. They both seemed unharmed- or not seriously harmed, at least.

Suddenly the black sand constructing the horse burst like a bubble, loosing the shape completely. Jo glanced around the room wildly as more black sand began seeping in from the shadows.

Soon it all gathered up in the center of the room, and the shadows grew until barely any light remained.

Again, the sand exploded and reformed, this time into familiar malevolent frame of a man. A loud, echoing laugh filled the room as it did so.

The figure slid through the air above them like a shadow, before the sand slipped off the looming figure to show the Nightmare King himself.

"So it seems you're little nick-knacks work after all. For now, anyway."

Judging by the way Pitch was grinning darkly down at them, it was plain to see he wasn't affected by the 'defeat'.

"You won't get what you want." Alecvander coughed from the right. Jo began trembling a little as Pitch drew nearer to the old man, grin still in place.

"I'm afraid, old friend, that you're very, very incorrect. You see, I've decided to play you're little game. Did you really think that I would only send one small Nightmare if I wanted to defeat here and now?"

Jo, despite being very afraid, found his voice.

"So you were testing us? why?"

Pitch's gaze turned and met his own, and Jo felt a chill travel up his spine. Chuckling, Pitch vanished into a shadow behind him, only to reamerge right in front of the blond-haired boy. Jo gasped slightly and drew back.

Can't show fear. He manipulates it. Can't show...

"Stay away from-" Hauna drew forward only for Pitch to shoot out a hand, sending a cloud of dust wrapping around both her and Alecvander, throwing them back and pinning them against the , Jo tried to run over to them, bearing a distraught look when Pitch's other hand shot out in front of him, blocking his path.

"How sweet. A noble hearted boy who had no idea what he's dealing with." Pitch broke off the sentence in a mocking, menacing chuckle. Jo stepped back, scowling at him as he continued on "And maybe I was testing you. Or maybe I just wanted to see how far bravery would get you."

Jo bit his lip fretfully. He wasn't afraid. He wasn't afraid.

"Tell me, Jo...what is that you fear the most?" Pitch raised a bony hand and lightly prodded Jo's forehead once- and as soon as he did, images of a dark forest, a foggy moor, shouting voices and menacing figures flickered before Jo's eyes.

It was too much. He was only a boy- not even eleven yet. He jumped back, gasping in terror, hazel eyes wide and watery.

"Aw...I think you fear many things. How delightful." Smiling in an almost friendly (which was completely terrifying on Pitch) the Nightmare King drew back into the air at snapped his fingers. Behind them the sand pinning Alecvander and Hauna to the wall fell away, releasing them.

"I must be going now. Goodbye, Jo, Alecvander. I look forward to to continuation of our game."

The sentence was followed by another echoing laugh as the black sand faded away and the shadows fell back, allowing the light of the candles to glow peacefully in the messy room.

Jo stood, breathing deeply. The images o the dark forest, walking through the fog, the voices-

His head swimming with terror, he began falling back. He was unconscious before he even hit the ground.

Later on that night, a small, round, golden figure stood on a chimney top. The soft snow blanketed the town and the rooftops, reflecting the light of the full, round Moon.

Smiling up at said moon, the small figure waved his arms slowly, and golden sand began appearing all around him.

The Sandman raised his arms into the air and let the sand sweep through the houses, slipping into the rooms of children and sprinkling sleep into their eyes. Many peaceful and heartwarming dreams were taking place tonight.

Except for one. Sandman frowned in concern when his sand reached a particular child whose mind was far too troubled to allow him to dream. And this child, it seemed, was good-hearted, so in Sandman's books that meant he deserved a nice dream.

Also, as he sensed further, there was a trace of something dark where he was. Something he hadn't sensed since...

Now fully concerned, the Sandman waved his arms and conjured up a mini-plane (something he was very fond of doing) and fastened a pair of sand-goggles over his eyes.

Hopping in, he flew across the sky, across the ever-watching Moon, towards the place where the dark feeling was coming from.

He found it just outside of town in an older house. The windows were covered up with thick curtains and no light could be found inside.

Sandman landed softly on the roof, hopped out of his plane and allowed his goggles to fade away from his eyes. Walking over to the chimney he lowered an ear towards it.

Down in the living room, where fireplaces usually led, he heard two fretful voices.

"This is bad. If he could see right through all of your charms..."

"The boy has to leave the town, Alecvander. He must be kept safe, to matter what...If Pitch..." The voices gradually faded away.

Sandman's sleepy-looking eyes widened upon hearing that particular name. Making up his mind, he slipped down the chimney a lot like a friend of his was said to do. He coughed a bit when the suit covered him, and when he landed silently at the bottom of the fireplace he found the two voices had exited the room.

Still sleepily rubbing off the suit, he floated out of the living room and up the stairs.

He found the child he was looking for, tossing a turning in a bed in an old, bare room. It seemed these people had come here recently, maybe even without any belongings. The idea gave Sandy the notion that they had left in a hurry.

The Sandman floated over and landed softly on the side of the bed. He looked sorrowfully at the troubled expression adorning the child's face, and reached over to pat his light hair comfortingly.

Jo opened his eyes after having a trouble sleep. His vision was blurry and his body felt numb. All he could remember was being carried quickly from the boutique, passing in and out of consciousness before falling into a restless, worried sleep.

I hate this. I wish this feeling would just go away...

He was about to close his eyes again went he noticed a golden blur standing out in front of the darkness of the room. He opened his eyes fully.

Sitting on the bed was a very short and plump man with golden clothes and hair; hair that stuck up all over the place and sparkled slightly.

Golden sand floated around him gently, and he had a sleepy, yet worried look on his face.

Golden sand? sleepy...?

"S-sandman!" Jo whispered, smiling widely. Sandman returned the smile sleepily, raising a hand and waving tiredly.

Jo laughed quietly. "I..didn't think I'd see you..." The Sandman tilted his head curiously. Jo lowered his eyes.

"I'm sorry..." he said. The Sandman looked surprised, and he tilted his head to the other side, obviously asking for him to explain.

"I mean...I didn't really believe in you before all of this..." Jo immediately regretted saying it, for Sandman's look morphed into a sorrowful, almost hurt one. He felt immensely guilty. What must it be liked, to be told something like that?

"I'm sorry. I guess I just didn't give you a chance." Sandman seemed to consider what he said. Then, his smile returned. Jo looked at him hopefully.

"So...do you forgive me?"

Sandman, again, smiled sleepily and nodded. He then raised hand and sprinkled some of the dream sand into Jo's eyes, and He fell asleep immediately. A pleasant dream about playing on a swing appeared above his head as little sand figures.

Satisfied that his work was done but also worried about the urgency of the situation, the Sandman left the house and began traveling in his sand plane to North.

The boy had special talents for if he hadn't believed in him as much as others but could still have seen him (even if he believed in him now) and Pitch was involved, then it there could be a serious problem brewing on the horizon.

SANDY!

Please for the love of Pete, REVIEW.

Sandman's so much fun to write with.