Feeling guilty, Jack decides to make a surprise for her for when she returns as a way of making things up to her. Mysterie goes for a walk in Burgess once her "job" is done, walking the streets of the city and humming to herself as if she doesn't have a care in the world. A hint of a smile on her lips as she enjoys the cool air and the sights before heading back to the forest. When she arrives she sees sculptures from ice that were made to depict various stories she'd created online. She freezes in her tracks when she sees the sculptures, not having been aware that Jack even knew about the stories that she'd made up about him and the other Guardians. She can only stare, wide eyed at them before she sees a message written in frost: I'm sorry. Please, I need help. Also I hope you like it! ~ Frost
She smiles ruefully as she reads the message, murmuring aloud; unsure if he's there to hear but saying it nonetheless.
"So beautiful... heh... I think though it'd be obvious that I always help my friends." She chuckled softly as she admired the sculptures before deciding it was late and that she needed some rest in the cabin she'd rented. It wasn't far from the woods really, just a few feet off to the right of the ice cavern. She retreated there for the night, content. She goes to the ice cavern the next day after her "work" feeling stiff and decides to rest on the ice bed to soothe way her aches and pains. Lying there, waiting for Jack, however, she falls asleep. Jack arrives near dark and smiles when he sees her asleep in the bed. He tucks her in quietly before taking some dream sand that Sandy had once given him and sprinkled a little on her to ensure good dreams. He sighs quietly. If only she knew how I really feel. She's like a big sister to me. After a moment of standing there and making sure the dream sand did its job, he flew out of the cavern. Not long after she wakes up slowly with a yawn, having dreamed of friends and what happy times she'd had in life. She strangely feels not only rested, but doesn't feel any disappointment to see that Jack isn't around. She decides to head out to see what else she can find of the night life of Burgess.
Jack wakes up the next morning, shivering from remembered nightmares which have just gotten worse instead of better. He visits the ice cavern to find his friend is still asleep there.
"I'm sorry Mysterie, I can't tell you it's just getting worse and worse and this seems to be a problem I need to fight on my own." He whispers quietly so not to wake her. He moves from the cavern, unaware of the shiver that goes through her as she awakens from the night's dream. Her fear quickly turns to anger and she lets out a soft snort before she gets up and stalks out of the ice cavern, knowing too well who is responsible for her less than restful night's sleep. Jack finds himself surrounded by Nightmares of all types and regretting his decision to face Pitch alone. He covered his ears as Pitch fills him with doubt despite the ice daggers that he shoots at the Nightmares around him. Wolves snap at him and he cries out in pain as something kicks him in the stomach, breaking a couple of ribs; Jack curls up to protect himself, a dome of ice frosting over to protect him from further blows.
"What's the matter Frost? Can't take a hit or are you too weak to fight back? You know, it's your fault." Jack screams in fear, wishing that the torture would just end. Pitch smiles cruelly and opens his mouth to say more except a silver whip shoots out from the darkness and wraps itself around Pitch, yanking the Boogeyman back from the dome and slamming him into the ground before he has time to figure out what is going on. Mysterie snarled as she come out of the darkness of the woods around the clearing.
"I warned you..." She was clearly ticked. A second whip snaps through the air, driving the Nightmares back from the icy dome that is protecting Jack even as he shivers from the dark memories in his mind that flicker before him like a picture show. He screams in pure agony, feeling the actual pain slice through him like a knife, the dome shatters and he's left shivering; his eyes glazed over as his scream pierces the air. Nightmares step back when the dome shatters only to jump to attention when Mysterie jerks her head, the Nightmares rush at Pitch and surround him; ensuring he cannot get away as the silver sand disappears a moment. She walks between the various Nightmares and kneels next to Jack. Lightly placing her hands on his head, she murmurs softly.
"Shhh. It's okay. I won't let them hurt you. I promise." The black sand that is stuck in Jack is drawn out along with a Fearling that skitters away towards the Nightmares that guard Pitch; any attempt he makes to escape, even through the shadows, is blocked by them. The little scorpion Fearling clicks its claws as it stands at the feet of its "master" and helps ensure that the other doesn't escape or try anything. Mysterie presses a gentle kiss to Jack's forehead, hoping to help soothe him from the effects of the Nightmares. Jack relaxes and opens tear filled eyes.
"M-mysterie." He breaths, the words a little heavy even as the words of doubt in his mind fade back to where he pushes them, where he locks away all of his most hated memories. He hugs her, crying openly only able to think that she is his life line; he sobs harshly, trying to make the words come out about how sorry he is and that he should have listened to her.
"I-I s-should have -hiccups- listened to you!" Ice swirls around the area in a swaying motion as the wind tries to cheer up the winter spirit. She gently wipes away the tears as she speaks quietly.
"You have nothing to be sorry for Jack. I should have known you'd try and do things on your own. I should have kept a better eye on you." She hugged him close, stroking his back in a soothing motion; having forgotten Pitch and the Nightmares for a moment until Pitch made something of a gagging sound. Sighing, she glanced back over to the Nightmare King.
"You know, it would have been better if you'd stayed quiet. I'd almost forgotten you were still here. Now that you've so kindly reminded me, however, I think I shall put you on hold for a moment... but don't worry, I won't forget a second time." The Nightmares swirl around him and form a cage, dragging him away. Mysterie turns back to Jack, not having relinquished her hold; offering what silent comfort that she could. Wishing that she could have done more, would have known that this would happen and could have prevented it. Jack suddenly sinks into unconsciousness and it isn't until she spots a second Nightmare scorpion that she understands why. She snarls at it, sending it running off before she touches her forehead to Jack's. Closing her eyes to pool her power to counteract the nightmares to come; she trembles a little, not used to drawing this much power, as what is needed to slip into the nightmares and deal with them on the plane of dreams which as is needed to drive them off. Trapped in a Nightmare's hold, Jack struggles to surface in dark waters as a figure standing ashore but worse calls out to him.
"It's your fault Jack, you should rot in hell for all I care." Jack screams, the black water going into his mouth as he struggles to see; being dragged down towards the Fearlings that await at the bottom.
"No! Nooooooooo!" He screams loud enough to shatter glass. Doubts seem to swarm over him as he stares at a dark shadow version of his young sister.
"You're right... I deserve to rot in hell." He starts to close his eyes and cease struggling, letting himself be dragged towards the Fearlings and slowly be turned into one of them. Mysterie quickly appears, calling to him even as she faces the evil little girl with a glare.
"No. Jack... please listen. This isn't you, we all make mistakes and you don't deserve this. You never have. Don't let him win... Don't give him the satisfaction because if you do..." Her voice cracked even as she went on.
"If you become like him... I'll have to destroy you... and I don't want to do that... Please, little brother... don't give in to the darkness." Turning her attention solely on the girl before her then, she produces a blade and the other does likewise, but Mysterie is quicker and has experience in the use of her blade and slashes the thing in two, causing it to burst into nightmare sand. Tossing the blade aside, Mysterie dove into the black water without hesitation and struggled to reach Jack. After hearing the words, Jack's eyes open to a most brilliant blue and bright light explodes from the lake, knocking the nightmare away from him. He floats within a fury of ice and snow, the snow harshly pelting anything and everything evil.
"I WILL NEVER GIVE IN! NEVER! YOU HEAR ME PITCH!" He screams in a tone that makes Mysterie shudder a little as much as the display of sudden power. The darkness recedes, but Jack is too furious to calm down.
"GET OUT OF MY HEAD YOU GOD DAMN NIGHTMARES!" Jack doesn't even take note that he's swearing, everything turns white all of the sudden; causing Mysterie to have to shield her eyes and the two suddenly snap awake. Jack gasping for air as he looks at Mysterie who is still holding him close. Jack hugs her close to him.
"Thank you big sister." He manages as wind swirls happily around the two of them.