I closed my eyes, resigned against the fingers tightening around my neck. My lungs ached for air, and to Fear's delight, I felt the first tendrils of mortal terror. I was going to die.

Just as my vision began to fade, something swung from a dark corner of the room, colliding with Fear. The shock of the hit loosened his grip on my throat, the blast knocking the void away from me. Cool air filled my lungs as I scrambled to my feet, looking for the one who had either assisted or missed me.

A familiar golden glow emanated from a pair of eyes, two orbs of honey staring back at me from the shadows. My heart skipped a beat. It couldn't be...no, it had to be a figment of my imagination.

"No! She was mine!" Fear roared, angered by the sudden interruption. He lunged towards the newcomer, claws extended. My bow and arrows materialized in front of me, and with lightning speed I shot an arrow towards him. To my dismay, the arrow hit its mark, yet passed between the fury-hazed eyes to clatter to the cave floor beyond.

"You..." Fear hissed, his darkened form whirling towards me. I had not noticed, but the room had grown lighter, and warmer. Fire. There were fires blazing in the far corners of the cave. They were small, barely noticeable, but they made all the difference. The black form of Fear was visible in the light, eliminating his element of surprise. I backed away from the stalking figure in front of me, my heart pumping with adrenaline.

Fear leaped at me, the sharp tips of his claws aimed at my neck. I ducked under him, crying out as one of his talons found it's way down my back. Inhaling sharply, I continued to roll to my feet behind him and nocked another arrow. I released the arrow onto his nape, but the arrow simply passed through the void. A spike of dread shot through my body, and I stumbled backwards. I was useless against him. I felt droplets of blood trickle down my back, reminding me of my mortality. I could do nothing to stop him.

"Please, my dear, allow me." I heard behind me, and a shiver went up my spine at the sound of the voice. A long black scythe extended beside me, sweeping low on the ground and burying itself into the side of Fear, whose form had changed to that of a...

"Dragon..." I breathed. Memories of the attack at the Pole ran through my mind. Was this the same dragon? No, Fear was not made of nightmare sand. The nightmare dragon had been a pawn, subject to the will of its creator. This dragon held no benevolence. This beast, this spirit lived for one thing: terror. And Fear would stop at nothing to instill terror in the minds of every child across the planet. His new form was enough to give nightmares to even the bravest child. His blackened horns swept back from his head, his wings reaching across the lair. His talons were extended and sharp, clicking against the rock as he moved. His blood red eyes glared out from his crested brow, a long forked tongue slithering between pointed teeth. I cringed as a piercing cry echoed around the cavern, the blade digging into the scales of the beast.

"How did you essscape?" Fear hissed, his voice taking on a reptilian twinge. His words were aimed towards the golden-eyes spirit beside me, his tongue flicking with agitation. He swung his tail towards us, an attack we easily dodged. It slammed into the cave walls, the impact rattling around the cavern, causing stalactites to rain down upon us.

"You were right about night and fear going together. But, just as the Moon, you left out one little detail. It is not fear that commands the night. It is the night that commands fear in children. And mind control...what a cute party trick. It worked for you so far. But as soon as you left me, I remembered. Everything." The figure next to me growled, swinging the scythe once again, striking the same spot and digging deeper. Fear writhed, roaring with pain. One of his claws flew out, ripping through the scythe as if it were paper. He lunged at us, and without thinking I leapt in front of the figure before me.

I braced for impact, expecting his talons to shred through my wings, but the pain never came. Opening my eyes, I saw a huge shield of nightmare sand in front of me, solid and sturdy. Fear released a shrill cry as his claws shattered against the impenetrable barrier. The golden-eyed spirit beside me created chains from nightmare sand, whipping them around the dragon of Fear, immobilizing him.

"How are you ssstopping me? Why can't I move?" Fear struggled. His head reared back and forth, and he released a blast of flames in our direction. Another figure moved beside me, eyes of orange smiling at me. There was serenity, but also mischief, in the fiery orange orbs. A pale hand extended in front of us, halting the flame and curving it away from where we stood.

"Queen Halloween!" I cried, relieved that she as well had broken free of Fear's control.

"I will not be free for long, child, so escape while you can." Her voice sounded strained, through a smile of contentment that lingered upon her face.

"I won't leave you!" I responded forcefully. I was determined to stay until the bitter end. I would not abandon my friends in their time of need. Not against an enemy as strong as Fear.

"Foolisssh ssspiritsss!" Fear hissed, his eyes glowing embers of fire and rage. The void that made up his body twisted about, pulsing and straining against the restraints. "Your mindsss belong to me! Thisss isss imposssible!"

"Mind control is strong, but in the heart lies the key. And there is only one person who commands my heart." The golden-eyed figure held up a glowing object, half shaped like the sun, the other like the moon.

"NO!" Fear screamed as a bright light surrounded the cave, drowning out everything else. I heard Queen Halloween call, but her voice was drowned out by...was it neighing? It sounded strangely like horses. There was a hand holding mine, cold and strong, pulling me. I heard splashes of water and felt droplets splatter against my face as I ran past, unknown as to where I was headed. My pendant burned in my vision ahead of me, hanging from the grasps of the figure who had saved my life.