"Rebel! Rebel!" Sarah shouted, pulling on the Nightmare's mane in a desperate attempt to rein him in. The Nightmare's only response was to run faster, taking the girl away from what he had perceived as a threat. "Stop it you damn horse!" She screeched, glancing back at the two colored dots on the ground. "Rebel! If you go any higher I won't be able to breath!" Sarah's panicked plea caught the Nightmares attention, slowing it to a steady trot. Rebel straightened out his course, running across the empty sky. "Where are we going?" Sarah asked the dark horse. Rebel turned his head to face the girl, bright eyes glowing. He let out a playful snort, throwing a burst of speed as he whipped his head back forward. I guess you'll tell me when we get there…
Jack turn to face Sandy, eyes nearly popping out of his head. "What… just happened?" He asked slowly, clearly shocked. Sandman shrugged, gesturing for Jack to follow him. "What was that?" He repeated. Sandy sighed, shaking his head. Jack may be older than the town, but he is still a child. He is still so excitable but such strange events. But even I find myself shaken. In all my years I've never seen something like this. A human child who rides Nightmares? It's unheard of. Pitch rides the beast because they are an extension of his dark soul. But with her… Could she be as evil as he? Or is she something different? Could she be… But I thought, no… Ah… That could be it. Perhaps it would be best to not intervene, to let things take their own course.
Sandy pulled Jack to the Sandship, pausing slightly to reassemble it to something more to his suiting. Pleased with his results, he settled in and began to pilot the Spanish Galleon towards the North Pole; Hoping North would be able to affirm or rebuke his thoughts on the mysterious events of the night.
After a while Jack spoke: "It's not just me, right?" He asked seriously for once, "Sarah turned your dreamsand into a Nightmare." The little golden man's brow furrowed as he turned to face the pale boy. He opened his mouth and held up a finger, suddenly changing his mind and shaking his head instead. He bit his lip, and appeared to be deep in thought. This is very peculiar indeed, I had not thought of that. How did the Nightmare she rides upon come into being? And why did she seem not afraid, more familiar and friendly than any other emotion. So many questions, so few answers. And what of Jack? Where did he meet this girl, and how he gain the ability to hurt her so? The Sandman giggled at the last thought. Perhaps that is not as much a question as the others, young boys have broken the hearts of young girls for many a millennia.
"Sandy! What are you doing here?" North boomed in his thick accent, throwing his arms in the air at the sight of his old friend. "And Jack! You came too!" He clapped Jack on the shoulder, steering him toward his private workshop. "Sandy! You come too, ya?" He asked, gesturing for his fellow Guardian to follow him. As he slammed the great doors shut, North quickly turned to face the two in his room. "So… What is problem?" He asked happily, pulling a plate of cookies from the hat clad elves. Sandman began rapidly signing symbols so quickly they blurred together, causing the two taller Guardians to share a bemused glance. "It started a few days ago…."
Jack reencountered the tale of how he had first met Sarah, the Nightmares by the hospital and the story of how her mother had been murdered. As he reached the near of the story he explained more slowly, adding as much detail as he could remember of the Nightmare and where he supposed it came from.
"Is very interesting Jack, Nightmares are an extension of Pitch himself. If this girl, this Sarah, rides them. Weeell…" North drew out the syllables while he thought. "Could be big problem, no?" He asked, bursting out laughing. "Nightmares tricky subject, ya? They hide in shadows and come to call of master. Very tricky, Sandy! What you think?" He boomed suddenly, turning towards the golden man. I do not know old friend. Sandman held a question mark over his head, shrugging. "Jack, do you have idea?" North asked, softly for his usual tone. The frozen teen sighed, "I don't know. I think there's a lot I don't know."
Sarah shuddered, looking around the decrepit land Rebel had brought her to. "Why did you bring me here?" She asked slowly, gazing at long deal trees and remnants of what she assumed must have been wooden houses. She breathed in slowly, her nose wrinkling at the smell of rotting plant life carried by the biting cold air. "For that matter…" Sarah tangled his fingers in Rebel's inky mane, hardly noticing the tide like motion as it moved under a nonexistent wind. Rebel huffed, his hot breath steaming in the cold air as he nudged the girls shoulder. Sarah looked confused at the sky, no sound or sight of civilization apparent for miles. "Where is here?"