Note: This chapter may be a little filler... Or maybe a lot. After the jump is pretty much filler. Also, GUESS WHAT I GOT TODAY?! Three books and the author is William Joyce. I got the book set of North, Bunnymund, and Toothiana~ Aaaaah!

Sophie stared wide-eyed at the boy that hitched a ride with her. The whispers in her head were laughing at her, calling her stupid and saying she couldn't do anything right. The boy didn't look scared. He was curious. He looked around the dark, cavernous room and back to Sophie.

"We… We gotta go, Elliot. Right now." She took his arm and just as she was about to leave, a voice spoke from behind her.

"Leaving already, Muse?"

She froze up. The girl slowly looked behind her, a chill seeping down her spine. Pitch looked to her peculiarly, a friendly smile playing on his lips. He looked from Sophie to the boy she had a tight grip on. "Ah! And who is this?"

"Aunt Sophie, loosen up, will ya? You're hurting me." Elliot tugged his arm away and rubbed it, frowning sorely. She had not meant to hurt him but the fear that gripped her needed an anchor. She needed something to hold on to. All Sophie knew was she needed to get Elliot away from here now. She wouldn't let Pitch do anything to him.

"Don't worry about him." Sophie said in a small voice. "I'm taking him home."

"'Aunt Sophie?'" Pitch repeated. He looked thoughtful before letting out a short laugh. "Ah! Is this your nephew? Ah, he looks just like his father."

"Pitch, leave him alone, he—"

"Pitch?" Elliot blinked, looking at her. Then he slowly looked up to the tall, dark man that stood before her. "That's Pitch?"

Sophie stood in front of Elliot protectively. She wasn't going to let Pitch hurt him. The voices said Pitch was good for him. He would never hurt him. Sophie didn't want to believe them, not for a second.

"Wow, you're… not all that scary."

Sophie looked to Elliot who shrugged. There wasn't a hint of fear coming from him. He stood casually, taking in the man that towered them inquisitively. Sophie had to shut him up before he said anything more. She didn't dare look at Pitch.

"Oh, really?" Pitch inquired.

"The way Dad described you was much scarier." Elliot continued. Sophie shushed him and tried to put a hand over his mouth. "Aunt Sophie's actually scarier than you."

Sophie stopped and slowly looked to Pitch. She was shocked to see he was laughing. Pitch laughed and moved around Sophie to stand with Elliot. "There's a reason for that, dear boy. You see, I'm not what's scary. I just… bring the fear. Like this."

Nightmares and Fearlings rose out of the shadows, surrounding them. Sophie grabbed Elliot's arm. She had to protect him. Pitch was going to—

"Cool." Elliot stepped up to a Nightmare, looking it up and down. Sophie and Pitch shared the same look of shock. "I could use these. I've been trying to come up with a monster for a game I want to make. These could work." He touched it and the dark sand it was made of turned gold. "Oh, oops."

Sophie quickly turned to Pitch. "Don't worry, I'm taking him home right now. I'm sorry, it was an accident. I didn't mean to bring him here."

Pitch only laughed again. "What a brave nephew you have, 'Aunt Sophie.'"

"'Cause I'm not scared of the Boogeyman. I'm not four anymore." Elliot circled a Fearling, shoving his hands into his pockets. The Fearling hissed at him, waiting for Pitch's word to strike. "I'm fifteen." Elliot met Pitch's gaze. "And I know you can't hurt me."

"Pitch," Sophie tried to catch Pitch's attention. She had to pull him away from Elliot. "I'll take him home and we can talk, okay? You wanted to talk to me, right?"

"No, no, this is perfect." Pitch smirked. "I was going to ask about your first light. How it felt to finally be believed in."

Sophie stopped and considered. Elliot was examining the monsters that were still waiting for the signal to… attack? Jump-scare him? What were they going to do? She knew she wanted to protect Elliot. He wasn't her first believer, but… it felt good. Really good to be seen and heard. It seemed to only hit her just now. Sophie—Muse—was was believed in. She couldn't put into words the overwhelming joy she felt. A smile crossed her features that she shyly covered quickly with a hand.

"Good, right?" Sophie nodded. "Look at what we've accomplished. And with him, you will get more believers. And your own brother will finally see you." A hand was on her shoulder. She looked up at him. That's right. Jamie would see her. So what if she looked like this? It was only temporary. He would understand, right?

"Hey, this is a Fearling, right?" Elliot interrupted and pointed to the creature. "It's not a horse, so it can't be a Nightmare. Geddit? NightMARE? Pitch, you're so pun-y."

"Yes, that is a Fearling."

"Well, if I touch a Nightmare and it turns into dream sand, what'll happen if I touch a Fearling?" Elliot asked.

"It may very well try and bite you hand off." Pitch replied.

"Elliot, don't touch it!" Sophie ordered quickly.

The boy shrugged and reached out, putting a hand on it's head. The creature winced and snarled before lashing at the boy. Sophie yelped and quickly jumped on top of the creature, pulling it away from Elliot. It writhed under her grip and she kicked it away. Sophie quickly rolled to her feet and Pitch chuckled. She looked to the man.

"And you say that you can't fight."

"I—"

"Perhaps all you really need is some… incentive." the man started. The Fearlings and Nightmare sunk into the shadows around them and Sophie stood in front of her nephew. "Though, I can't imagine how trying to save your precious Guardians wasn't enough for you. Then again, you were too busy with Jack Frost releasing Mother Nature."

"Wait, Aunt Sophie, he—?"

"Knows she's been fighting me every step of the way? Of course. It was my plan from the start. Oh, how I wish Jack Frost recognized you. That reaction would have been one I'd love to see. Well, perhaps next time. Soon, he'll be just as tainted as you and the other Guardians."

"You don't think I've changed tact-tics?" Sophie rose her eyebrow in defiance.

"You don't think I have?"

Sophie frowned and looked back at Elliot before looking to Pitch. The gears were working in her muddled mind. Pitch didn't want her to take Elliot home… He continued to keep her distracted. He was being friendly to Elliot.

Sophie backed up and stood right in front of Elliot. The boy was a head taller than her, but that didn't mean she wasn't going to try and shield him with all of her might. "Don't touch him."

"Who said anything about touching him?" Pitch shrugged. "No, no. I'm sure you've made a plan with him. One he would share with others. I mean, he's old enough. He can help you and understand what is happening. We can't have that, can we?"

"Aunt Sophie… Let's go." Elliot put a hand on her shoulder. She started shaking, her knees weakening. Terror was overwhelming her. She couldn't breathe. She was frozen where she stood.

"No, you two aren't going anywhere."

"Aunt Sophie, let's go!"

Sophie screamed and held herself. Her scream was accompanied by the screams of nightmares and reverberated eerily around the cavernous halls. She didn't understand. Why was she so scared? What was she afraid of? All she knew was that her senses were overcome with fear and it made it impossible for her to move. She dropped to her knees, her legs unable to support her. Choked cries escaped her mouth. She was vaguely aware of the warm arms that tried to calm her. A distant voice telling someone to stop and laughter.

But the fear was so deep, it reached her very soul and took hold.

— — —

When she finally had her senses, she was panting and shaking on the floor. She looked around. Pitch was gone. But Elliot sat next to her, worried. She sat up and held herself, not meeting his gaze.

"I'm sorry." she said

"No, I'm the one that kinda hitched a ride."

"But I… I didn't want this to happen." Sophie said in the quietest voice she had.

"Who would?" Elliot shrugged. "Really, Aunt Sophie, it's okay. Jack will probably come looking for me. I mean, really, I disappeared out of nowhere. Probably freaked Sophie and Tyler out. I wish I could have seen their faces."

"You're taking this way too well." Sophie said, leaning against the wall next to her nephew.

"I've been immersed in this Immortal stuff my whole life." he replied simply. "How many kids can say they flew over Alaska with Jack Frost and saw the Northern Lights? How many kids can say they helped the Easter Bunny paint eggs for Easter? How many kids can say they've rode on dream sand clouds with the Sandman and helped the Tooth Fairy collect teeth? Seriously, how many kids can say they went to the North Pole and met Santa?! My life is full of this stuff. Tyler, Sophie and me are really lucky. We just happened to get the coolest parents in the world and their dad only happens to be best friends with THE Jack Frost." Elliot smiled at her. "And now they have bragging rights 'cause their Aunt is Muse. I love my family."

Sophie, despite still shaking off the fear, laughed. Elliot was much braver than she. And smarter, too. She never prided herself in her intelligence—she had always been a bit air-headed—and it wasn't really such a surprise to her her plans failed. Maybe she should just stop making plans? The girl stood up.

"Let's see if we can get you home to that awesome family, hm?" Sophie said, straightening her dress. The boy looked doubtful, but stood up. She took his hand and tried to transport them out of Pitch's liar.

Darkness swirled around them. When it vanished, they appeared in a dark room with cages. Sophie frowned.

"… We didn't leave, did we?" Elliot asked.

"No."

"Huh."

Sophie sighed. They were trapped. It was probably the nightmare sand she had been infected with that kept them here. Elliot scratched his chin, frowning. Sophie felt… horrible. She failed him. She couldn't protect him. She failed Jamie. She put his son in danger. And Jack. This would probably be the first place he came looking for Elliot.

"Anklebiter?"

Sophie's breath hitched. Elliot looked to the closest cage and quickly climbed up to look inside. Sophie leapt up, causing the cage to sway. Inside, E. Aster Bunnymund was shackled and stained. His tribal markings had grown spike-like and dangerous looking. His grey fur was darkened. His green eyes, almost black.

Bunnymund looked up to Elliot. "What are you doin' here?"

"I… Kinda…" he bit his lip and looked to Sophie.

"I brought him here, Bunny." Sophie explained. Bunnymund looked at her. His shaded eyes widened.

"Sophie? 'S that you? North told me about your Immortality, but… he didn't…."

Sophie smiled sadly. "I wish you could have seen me at my best. You'd be so proud, Bunny. I should have tried to make Easter Eggs with you! They would have been the best batch ever! But… Pitch… he…." The look he was giving her tore her heart. Bunnymund was her favorite Guardian. Maybe it was the bond she struck with him when she was two, but she had always chosen Bunnymund over the others. Jack Frost… he wasn't her favorite Guardian. No, he was her favorite person. He was her favorite everything.

"Sophie, don't be lookin' like that now. It's okay."

"I'm so sorry, Bunny!" she wiped her wet eyes. "It's my fault you guys are here. I told Sandy you should try and stop Pitch. And it was part of his plan. I didn't know. I swear, I—"

"None of us blame you." Bunnymund interrupted firmly. "Don't even start that, Anklebiter."

"Did you bite his ankle, too?"

Sophie looked to Elliot. "Huh?" What the heck was he talking about?

"Oh, Bunny still calls me Anklebiter because I bit his ankle. I was a biter. Tyler still has scars." Elliot explained.

"… What kind of kids did Jamie raise?" Sophie muttered.

Bunnymund laughed. "Go easy on 'em, Sheila. They're good blokes. Just a little rough around the edges."

"But biting the Easter Bunny's ankle?!"

"I was four!"

Bunnymund chuckled and leaned against the bars. Sophie looked to the tired-looking rabbit and furrowed her brows. She had to get him out of here. She had to free Bunnymund, Toothiana, and North. But how? She looked at the three cages, each of their occupants shackled down and tainted. Toothiana and North were asleep, dark sand swirling around their heads.

"We're going to get you out of here, Bunny…" Sophie promised.

"You'll just make it worse for yourself. Wait for Jack and Sandy. They'll get us out just in time for the fight." Bunnymund assured her. "Just sit tight, you two. We'll be out of here soon. And you'll be set right."

Elliot next to her was growing weak. His arms were shaking and his knees couldn't support him. He couldn't hold onto the cage any longer and dropped down, panting. He wasn't strong like his brother. Sophie smiled fondly down at him and joined him on the ground, steadying the cage.

"How long do you think it'll take for him to get here?" Elliot asked.

"Depends… How long was I out for?" Sophie looked to the boy.

"Let's see…. it was around two-ish when we went into town. Two-thirty when we got here… my phone died at ten, so um… you woke up not long after that. By the way, there is NO service in here."

"… I was out for eight hours?!" Sophie exclaimed incredulously.

"Yeah, Pitch was apparently really mad at you."

"What happened?" Bunnymund looked down at them and Sophie smiled assuringly.

"It's nothing."

"No, what did he do to you? He's already in for it. That bloody wombat is gonna—"

"Bunny, it's okay." She wished she could reach him. A light touch just to assure him. Unfortunately, her height was not on her side. "I'm not hurt. It was just scary."

"So… will Jack and Sandy get here?" Elliot asked. "It's already been seven-eight-ish hours. Maybe tomorrow?"

Sophie thought for a moment. "We'll know when the other Immortals arrive."

"What do we do 'til then?"

"Reserve our strength." Sophie crossed over to the wall and pat the ground next to her. "Come here, Elliot. You should probably sleep."

The boy considered her. He shuffled his feet, looking as if he was about to protest before frowning and sitting next to her. She took his head and laid it on her lap. He was stiff, probably nervous. She didn't blame him. She was practically a stranger.

"Just indulge me, okay? I never got to be an aunt." she insisted, smiling at the boy. He frowned and turned away from her. "Not sleepy?"

"No, just… this is weird."

Sophie chuckled and stroked his hair. "You know… I kind of wish I never… I never died. I missed a lot. Sophie was the only birth I was actually there for. I missed the first six months of your life. I missed so much… Sophie learned to walk, you learned to talk, Tyler was starting to read, sorta. Time passes differently when there's no end for you… I got caught up. If I was still alive I would have spoiled you three rotten."

"Dad said you would have…" Elliot yawned.

"I'm sorry…"

"Stop apologizing." he mumbled. "Dad raised us with the idea you were always there. Whether you were an Immortal or an angel, you were there watching us. And you were. So Dad wasn't crazy. Good. 'Cause sometimes I wonder."

"Oh, no, he's crazy. Believed in Jack Frost for almost ten years without definitive proof. Because of one night when he was eight." Sophies giggled. "And I was dumb enough to follow along."

The boy hummed in agreement. The two were silent and she felt his breath deepening. Rubbing his back, she began to sing quietly. The chorus of voices with hers she expected to sound eerie. "Stars shining bright above you—Night breezes seem to whisper 'I love you'—Birds singing in the sycamore trees—Dream a little dream of me."

It wasn't just was strange sounding as she expected. She saw Bunnymund watching her and she gave a weak smile. Elliot had fallen asleep. It was still a great wonder to her how he had been so calm and so brave through all of this. Surely if this happened to Sophie, she would have been choking from a panic attack long ago. Then, what Elliot said Jamie told him rang through her mind. As long as they weren't afraid, they couldn't be hurt.

It was a bit harder for Sophie to not be afraid when she was imbedded with the fear. Pitch could paralyze her with terror with nothing more than a look. He had his hold on her. There was no way for her to escape it on her own, the voices assured her. She needed help. Sandman would help.

The plan she made will Elliot was all for not. … Or maybe not. She wrote a note to all three siblings. Saying they needed all of their help. Hopefully, Tyler and young Sophie would insist. Jack would have to include them. After all, their brother was missing. They would want to help.

Sophie just smiled.

Maybe she wasn't so dumb after all.