Nina couldn't believe her eyes. She wished this was all a bad dream, but she couldn't deny what she had seen. Struggling to speak, she asked, "Melvin...you're the Shapeshifter?"

"I am. I am not Melvin. What you see before you is what I really am."

Nina choked, holding back tears, "No, Melvin. You're not...this."

Suddenly, Snow Miser and Tingler ran into the field, stopping a few feet behind Nina. Snow Miser was in his real form. Seeing that Nina wasn't hurt, Snow sighed in relief while Tingler was anxious. "We have to help her!" the Sound Imp cried out.

Snow Miser carefully watched the scene. "She'll be okay. She's got this. We'll step in if we need to."

"I'm frightened. Can I hold your hand, just until something happens or until this is over?"

"Sure thing." Snow held Tingler's hand to comfort him.

Meanwhile, Melvin (as the Shapeshifter) told Nina, "I am nothingness itself. And yet, I am filled with all the anguish of the world. I have been given a gift: clarity, and I must use this gift to help others. Those who will listen need to know that love and charity and hope are all an illusion. It is better to find that out sooner rather than later."

"You think love is an illusion? What about the love your father has for you? And what about your mom? I know she loved you!"

"She's gone!" the Shapeshifter shouted. "She's gone, and nothing will ever bring her back! The only way to deal with the pain is to warn others! That's why I must do this!"

Nina put her hand in her pocket and felt the photograph. "What about Heat Miser?" she asked him.

Upon hearing Heat Miser's name, the Shapeshifter transformed into Melvin much longer than the first time. It was during these moments that Heat Miser arrived, and he saw the transformation. Without thinking, Heat ran up to them and yelled, shocked, "Melvin!"

Melvin turned back into the Shapeshifter and backed up. Heat asked, hurt, "Why?"

"You wouldn't understand," the Shapeshifter brushed him off.

"I understand that you and I had something special, and you threw it away. You threw ME away," Heat said. "And now you're this thing? You've been hurting kids all around the world?"

"I'M HELPING THEM!" the Shapeshifter screamed. "I couldn't pretend to be cheerful anymore! I wanted my mother's death to mean something, and it finally does! I have the power to help others prepare for misery!"

Heat's eyes saddened. "But you're still miserable."

The Shapeshifter paused.

"Look at you. What even are you? This isn't the real you. The Melvin I know is kind and compassionate, not some blob thing."

Heat walked to the Shapeshifter, who took a step back. "Stay away!" the Shapeshifter screamed.

"No. I don't think I will. I deserve answers, and you deserve..." He held out his hand, and the Shapeshifter flinched. Heat rested his hand on his cheek. "...mercy."

The Shapeshifter looked up at him, shocked. Heat said, softly, "Let's talk about this, okay? There's got to be a way to fix what you did."

"It-It's too late," the Shapeshifter stuttered, trembling. "I already did so much d-damage."

Nina, who had stepped aside to let Heat Miser talk, told the Shapeshifter, "It's not too late to do what you can to make this right. If you're really sorry, we'll help you. You don't have to deal with this on your own."

The Shapeshifter broke down and sobbed. Gradually, he turned back into Melvin, staying in that form. "I wanted to help people, and instead, I made everything worse!"

Heat Miser hugged him. "But now you can make things right."

"Heat Miser, can you ever forgive me?"

"I don't know. It's going to take me awhile to get over what you did. You cut me off just because I'm supernatural."

"That wasn't the reason."

"It wasn't?"

"Of course not. The only reason I did it was because you would have stopped me from completing my plans. When I thought you were human and powerless, there was nothing for me to worry about. Then, when you told me you were supernatural, I had to stop talking to you. I couldn't let you interfere. But now I know how wrong I was."

"So, you didn't push me away because I'm not human?"

"No! Not at all!"

Heat looked relieved, but said, "Well, I still need time to heal. You hurt me really badly, and that's not something I'll be able to just get over."

Melvin told him, "I'll do everything I can to make it up to you. I don't want to lose you again." He turned towards Nina. "I'm so sorry, Nina. I really messed up. I want to make this right, but I don't know where to start."

Nina thought for a moment, then said, "I have an idea."