Moments later, Sage sniffed around alone as he followed his trail back to where he had dropped the Nightmare Rabbit.
"Okay, so he's gone. Which means..." Sage sniffed around before heading to the left where, after walking for a few minutes, he spotted the rabbit sniffing at his tracks.
Talk to me, Wolf Boy. Did you find him?Macy asked through the necklace bond, distance away from Sage and wondering what's going.
Yee of little faith, Sage said to Macy, before stepping out of the bushes that caught the nightmare rabbit off guard.
"Well, what's this? Come to surrender, hey?" Nightmare Bunny asked.
Sage smiled before turning around, digging a hole for a few seconds that covered the Nightmare with dirt before lifting his tail and wagging his bottom in his face, already running off.
Nightmare Bunny stood staring for a moment before yelling, "I WILL DESTROY YOU!" and then chased him.
From a distance, Macy, Lea, Snow Miser, and the rest of Sage's family were in position waiting for Sage and a Nightmare to show up.
"Okay, everyone ready?" Macy whispered.
Lea nodded her head in agreement.
"Come on, Bunny, Bunny, Bunny!" Sage laughed, taking the lead. "Now I know why the tortoise beat the hare!"
"Oh, laugh it up!" Nightmare Bunny snarled, trying to catch up to the Wolfblood.
Macy smirked, holding back her laughter when hearing them from a distance. "Here they come. When I say so, hold the Nightmare down long enough for Lea to do whatever she's about to do," she whispered to her friends and allies.
"Come on, Cottontail! Geez, you're slower than a snail!" Sage laughed at his rhyming.
"Wait for it...NOW!" Macy signaled, making her move with the others following her lead.
Sage leapt to the right as his friends and family launched at Nightmare Bunny.
"WHAT THE...?" the Anti-Guardian of Hope exclaimed, only to be too late.
Caught by surprise, Whampire, Blitzwolfer, and Macy-with the help of her sais-held Nightmare Bunny down. For good measures, Snow Miser froze Nightmare Bunny's feet to the ground from escaping.
"Nice job, Wolf Boy. Caught the dark hare right into our trap," Macy smirked. "Lea, you're up."
Taking a deep breath, Lea slowly came out of hiding with Nightlight sitting on her right shoulder to be closer to Nightmare Bunny. She showed no fear and had her hands clenched a little.
"So, the baby kit wants to play with the big boys now?" Nightmare Bunny taunted, thinking this is some joke.
Lea ignored that taunt, not leaving her gaze on him.
I can do this. I believe in the Guardians. I believe in my friends. I believe...in myself, Lea thought in her mind, closing her eyes to focus that made her crystal bracelet and Nightlight glow.
Without warning, she extended her hand and placed it on Nightmare Bunny's chest. Slowly, when doing that, his sand colored changed from black to gold.
"GAH! NOOOO! You can't run from the darkness! IT WILL CONSUME YOU!" Nightmare Bunny said, feeling the pain of warmth and happiness coursing through him before disappearing.
"While darkness can lure you in with it's mystery, as long as there's light in your heart, you won't stay in the dark forever," said Whampire, now feeling no Nightmare body to hold anymore.
Sage growled. "Light and belief shall guide us."
Lea opened her eyes, watching Nightmare Bunny before her turn into a floating trail of dreamsand that was moving somewhere.
"Follow that dreamsand! It will lead us straight to the Guardians!" the blonde teen exclaimed, already running to the same direction the golden sand went.
Sage ran quickly, snatching the back of Lea's jacket and swinging her up onto his back. "Hang on."
Lea, not hesitating, did exactly that with her wooden companion doing the same. She watched the others following their lead on not losing the Dreamsand trail.
Hours soon went by until they arrived at the rocky cliffs on the seashore. Skidding to a stop, Sage growled with his uncles.
"Dang it," Sage snarled.
"Great. Another lead that's ran cold," Macy scoffed, seriously annoyed. "So much for finding the Guardians."
Lea continued looking, not giving up just yet. It didn't take long for her to spot the dreamsand far way, going to a distant island that seemed completely dark. "Over there!" she pointed where the golden sand went to.
Sage whole body shook. "Anyone else get a bad feeling about that place?
Everyone raised their hand.
"If it's where the Boogeyman is directing North Wind to hide the Guardians and it gives people the creeps at first glance, then I'd say it's the right place," Macy remarked. "Not like villains would put their prisoners somewhere pleasant and nice."
"Snow Miser, since Katherine is still not feeling well, I don't suppose you know what that island over there is and could tell us anything important about it?" Lea asked gently to the Ice King.
"That, little lady, is the Island of No-Name. Used to belong to a giant vulture named Eon. But he moved in with the Thunder Bird in the United States. Place is desolate, cold, and unforgiving. Bro sure picked out some prime real estate," Snow Miser said.
Whampire looked at Ice Sprite. "What are you, a real estate agent?"
"That's how Snow Miser is. He's supposed to sound plus act similar to a real estate agent," Lea explained to Whampire, giving a caring smile. "I actually find that part of him enjoyable and pleasant when Grandpa James tried acting him out in the storybooks. Thank you for the intel, Snow Miser."
"No problem, Milady," Snow Miser grinned, taking his top hat and doing an elegant bow.
Sage rolled his eyes with Blitzwolfer. "You know, sometimes, he reminds me of Transyl."
"Is that supposed to be a good thing or bad thing?" Leas asked, whom heard Sage and had no clue who Transyl is.
"He's the absolute worst," Whampire blurted out, almost by instinct.
"Who is he?" questioned Lea.
Whampire was silent.
"Trust me, it's best you don't know," Macy replied, holding back the barf in before shuddering while thinking about that certain evil Vladat. "Let's just focus on the mission."
Sage nodded, looking to his Uncle X, whom just arrived with Kailash along the way when the path became clearer. Lea and Sage already filled them in with everything. Even had the worrying Giant Goose carry Katherine on her feathered back.
"Can you see what we're dealing with?" Sage asked.
Alien X looked at the Island. "I can feel the Guardians there. Along with two other individuals. But...I can't see anything."
"Did you say two other individuals?" Lea questioned, having a bad feeling on who they might be.
"Any ideas on how we can get inside without being spotted?" Macy asked. "Because my options are ninja stealth or full-on attack, and I don't think charging in blind would be the best option nor sure if we can see through that dark island."
Sage looked down at the water below. "Well, I have a thought. But you're not going to like it."
"Whatever it is, I'm willing to do this idea of yours if it means we'll save the Guardians and Katherine," Lea responded to the Wolfblood.
"Why do I have a feeling I'm gonna regret agreeing to what you're thinking of, Wolf Boy?" Macy deadpanned.
"Because it's going to be cold and we might end up wet," Sage said, looking at Snow Miser. "Any good at making submarines?"
"Yep. Totally gonna regret it," Macy groaned, lightly facepalming.
"Can't Alien X just teleport us there?" Lea asked.
Sage shook his head. "If North Wind is there, he'll sense anything that has to do with air. Best to come up from the bottom."
"Good point," Lea agreed, now turning her head back to Snow Miser. "What Sage asked you to do...Can it be done?"
"Step back and watch the master," Snow Miser said with a grin, as he flexed his hands.
"Might want to listen to his instructions, if I were all of you," Lea advised, now taking a few steps back from what Snow Miser was about to do.
Snow Miser stood in one place. His hands raised above him before a frosty, icy cold began to descend around the group, hardening around their feet and bodies.
"Now I know what ice cream feels like in a freezer," Blitzwolfer said through his chattering teeth.
Whampire tried to curl up against Wildmutt for warmth.
"Is it too late to request swimming across the island?" Macy half-joked, shivering violently.
"Guys, don't be rude. Snow Miser is trying to help us and what he made is the only way to get us there without being spotted," Lea reasoned, not actually bothered too much by the cold as everyone else. Since she spent most of her time outside the harsh Winters for fun, Lea was use to it. "Besides, I find this a bit clever. We'll be able to float across now to the island with the ice around our bodies and North Wind won't be able to sense us coming."
"Did you forget when I said the word 'Submarine'?" Sage said to Snow Miser.
"I don't think an ice submarine would have worked if it's completely made of ice," Lea guessed, now thinking about it. "Considering, as I just said before, ice floats. It can't sink down."
"Fine. Our weight should be enough, along with the Giant Goose," Sage replied.
"Right. Now that we have the ice around us, we'll be able to float across to the island with Snow Miser's sprites pushing us," Lea replied.
"Can we get this trip over with already? I'm nearly close to getting hypothermia," Macy groaned, chatting her teeth from the cold.
Sage smiled, sending warmth to Macy and the others with his bond of them.
"Thanks, Wolf Boy," Macy said, smiling at her love.
"Okay, Snow Miser. Please take us to the Island of No-Name!" Lea replied.
"Yes, milady. You heard her boys! Shove off!" Snow Miser said to his mini sprites that appeared out of nowhere.
With a quick salute, the group was shoved over the cliff and into the water where they sunk down into the dark depths.
"Whoa! What happened to the lights?!" Macy exclaimed.
"This part of the sea doesn't get much light," Whampire said, resting a hand on her shoulder.
Sage nodded. "Good thing a few of us are nocturnal."
"And it's a good thing that I have a friend who can help light the way when things are really dark for the rest of us that aren't," Lea spoke, smiling as Nightlight moved on top of her head to act as a flashlight.
They continued underwater for a while until Sage looked up.
"There! An underwater cavern entrance! Take us up!" Sage said.
"What Sage said, please," Lea politely replied to the mini sprites pushing them.
The mini sprites nodded, pushing them up to the surface. Breaching the water, Alien X transported them to the dry rocky floor of the cavern and made them warm plus dry.
Sniffing the air, Sage growled. "Candy canes, toothpaste, chocolate...carrots?" he said in confusion of chocolate covered carrots.
The aliens stared at the boy.
"That better not be someone's breath you're smelling..." said Blitzwolfer.
"This could only mean one thing. The real Guardians of Childhood are here!" Lea exclaimed, starting to get a good feeling about this. "We're close, guys! We're close in finding and rescuing them!"
Sage sniffed the air more. His uncles joined him until they all stood stalk still and snarled.
"We have company, too," Blitzwolfer growled, moving in front of Katherine and Lea, as Sage moved to Macy.
"What kind of company?" Lea asked in worry, bringing out her hockey stick to defend Kailash, whom also had Katherine, with Nightlight getting out his diamonded dagger ready for battle after climbing back down from her head to her shoulder.
"My guess, the not-so-welcoming kind," Macy remarked, taking out her twin sais.
Sage's ears twitched as he listened to what seemed like silence, but...
"Macy, on your left! Lea, your right!" Sage snarled.
Acting fast, the girls used their weapons of defense to hit something.
"What were those things?!" Macy exclaimed, not even sure what she hit.
Just then, the whole group began to hear some screeching sounds that belonged to curtain winged creatures of the night.
"If I had to guess, Nightmare Bats," Sage said. "Blitz, above you!"
Blitzwolfer slashed above his head, sending another enemy away.
"We can't keep fighting blind forever! Lea, get out your glowing friend!" Macy called out, swinging her sais to keep slashing for any nearby bats.
"I'm on it! Nightlight, go on top of Kailash's head and do your stuff!" Lea replied to her childhood companion.
Nodding his head, Nightlight hurried and hopped on the Snow Goose's lowered head before giving the small toy a lift. Once high enough, Nightlight brought his staff up in the air while glowing bright enough for everyone to see better.
Lea's bracelet was also glowing, too, that helped her see more of the Nightmare Bats surrounding them. They also seemed to be shrieking in fear and keeping distance away from the blonde teen and Kailash for some reason.
Sage had a thought. "Katherine, have Kailash flap its wings!"
Katherine weakly nodded her head and slowly got up while keeping balance. "Do...what he says..." she muttered to her goose.
Kailash honked from the command and followed her mother-like friend's instructions with Nightlight crouching down on the goose's head from falling off.
The Nightmare Bats were smashed into the walls, disappearing from sight and mind.
"Okay, we're clear," Sage said.
"Nice work, everyone. Especially Sage, Kate, Nightlight, and Kailash," Lea said, grinning at her friends.
Katherine smiled back. Although still weak, she was happy that she helped.
"So, where to now?" Macy questioned.
Wildmutt barked and was trying to point at something. Whampire and Alien X looked to their comrade to see what it was.
"Up. That path leads to the surface," Whampire said, pointing to a ramp-like path leading upwards.
"Then that's where we're going," Lea stated.
"Lea, you and I'll lead. Macy and Dad, behind us. Katherine, you hang back with Kailash and Alien X. Blitz and Wildmutt, behind Macy," Sage instructed, before looking at Snow Miser. "Stay here. You'll be our last line."
"As you wish," Snow Miser said.
"When things do become out of hand, you'll be there for backup and come to our aid," Lea assured, giving a caring smile while going to Sage. "I know you will, Snow Miser. Always looked up and believed in you, like the others."
Snow Miser chuckled as he winked at her. "Maybe when all this is over, we can have a nice cold drink?"
Sage rolled his eyes. "Seriously, are you sure you don't have a Vladat relative?"
"I'll consider that offer," Lea replied, waving goodbye for now. "Wish us luck."
"Let's just go before I lose my lunch from all this cheesy flattery," Macy groaned, rubbing the temples on her head.
Sage chuckled. "Don't worry, Mace. Once we got this one in the bag, you and I will have some private time. And I'll help wash the taste away."
"Appreciate it, Wolf Boy. Now less talk, more action!" Macy exclaimed, seriously up for some rescuing and butt-kicking.
Sage chuckled again. "That's my girl."
Soon, the group moved up the path. Sage was on edge as Lea held onto his fur. Moving with ghost-like footsteps, the rescue team clambered up until a light opened into a massive room. It was surprisingly very bright for the dark island. A grand piano stood at the far end, along with many other antics that looked like someone's high champagne tastes.
"Uh...What am I even looking at here?" Macy questioned, seriously not expecting any of this.
"North Wind's classy stuff. For an egotistical, narcissistic, and flat out selfish guy, he seems to have a not-so-bad taste with interior design," Lea explained, shrugging on that last part.
Sage shuttered. "Reminds me of the rich snobs who came to the fights."
"It's as if Lord Transyl and Nightmares had a baby," Macy remarked, now covering her eyes from the tacky room. "Somebody please guide me to where the fight is so I can let out this anger on the bad guys."
"I don't see North Wind, nor the Guardians. We should focus on finding them," Lea suggested.
Sage sniffed around. "Hold on back," he said, scooting back as the sound of heels on the expensive floor sounded.
"Someone's coming! Quick, everyone, hide!" Macy ordered, grabbing Lea's wrist and hiding behind one of the big fancy chairs, getting down on their knees.
Sage stayed low in the tunnel, his hackles raised as he and his uncles stayed to the shadows.
Lea looked from the corner to see Kailash, whom had Nightlight and Katherine, still out in the open. "Kailash! You, Kate, and Nightlight need to hide!" she whisper-shouted from a distance.
Acting fast, Nightlight directed the Tall Goose to get over near a corner and have her in the same position she did from when the group first met her. This made Kailash look like a big fluffy bed that actually matched with the room. Nightlight and Katherine stayed deep in the Big Feathered Bird's feathers from being spotted.
Soon, the steps became louder until the figure showed himself. He appeared to be around the same height as Snow Miser, purple skin, had a big chin, and whitish purple hair that looked like wild cotton candy on his head. His attired was similar to a billionaire's outfit with velvet purple colors. He had on a dark purple jacket with light purple wind-like designs on the collar and sleeves, a buttoned dark raspberry colored buttoned shirt, a white ascot on his neck that seemed similar to Sandy's, dark pants, and black-and white tap shoes.
He was none other than North Wind.
"At last! Victory had never tasted so sweet!" North Wind boasted, tapping on the floors with glee. "Those Guardians will be gone in a matter of moments!"
But he wasn't alone. Behind him walking in the room was the Guardians' archenemy. The Boogeyman and Nightmare King himself: Pitch Black!
"Yes, the sweetness of sadness and fear. A beautiful and rare cocktail," Pitch added, joining North Wind.
Still hiding, Lea took out a tiny make-up compact mirror from her bag pocket to see the villains better.
Pitch Black?! Here!? I knew it! Lea thought to herself.
"Who knew that your little black sand can actually work the same way as that Gold Sand Guy's on those Guardian Nitwits besides making dark creatures?" North Wind smugly asked, leaning his weight on the grand piano.
"Just shows how dark we can be," Pitch said in agreement.
Dark sand that works the same way as Sandy's Dreamsand? What do they mean by that? Lea kept thinking to herself.
"Indeed. Just think. By the time we're done spreading fear in this pathetic planet, we'll be able to go to other dimensional worlds and conquer them all!" North Wind continued boasting.
Sage growled, about to lunge if his father hadn't held him back, holding him in a tight hug.
"Sage, wait," Whampire whispered.
Macy looked at Sage, trying to signal her love from keeping quiet by putting an index finger on her lips.
"I should get started packing my wardrobe. Best to look amazing while dominating," North Wind suggested.
Sage growled, fighting his urge to snap at the massive blow heart…no pun intended.
"Yes, but remember, we still have our grand finale to do here," Pitch snickered.
"Of course. Wouldn't miss it for the world," North Wind sneered, grinning darkly.
Macy, now! Sage snarled mentally, his anger on the edge.
Hearing that, Macy halfway stood up, got out a shuriken and tossed it towards the chained chandelier from above the baddies. This clipped the chain and made the sparkly chandelier to fall.
"LOOK OUT!" Pitch hissed, diving out of the way.
Sage snarled, leaping from the shadows and snatching Pitch by the throat.
"GAH!" North Wind fell face forward and got halfway up with a sword pointing at his face. He looked up to see a white-wearing Brunette glaring at him.
"If I were you, I stay before I kick the air right of you, Windbag," Macy threatened.
Sage snarled as Pitch squirmed.
"I would watch yourself. Sage there is in a very protective mode," Whampire warned, moving into sight while giving a stern face. "Besides, if you escape him, then you'd be dealing with me."
Lea got out of hiding to face the Evil Wind Spirit with a not-so-happy face.
"Where are the Guardians?" Lea asked firmly.
"Like I'd answer to a weak mortal," North Wind scoffed, chuckling.
Before he knew it, Macy grabbed North Wind by the jacket and pushed him harshly against the wall; using her left hand to hold him while using the other to point at him. For a tall guy, he was very light to lift.
"Either you start answering to my friend or things start to get ugly!" Macy growled.
"Watch the wool! You are wrinkling my clothes!" North Wind shouted, struggling out of the Brunette's hold.
"Maybe I should show him how much we care about his clothes," Blitzwolfer said, flashing his sharp fangs and claws.
"AH, okay! Okay! Easy, Fito! Let's not go crazy here!" North Wind raised his hands in defense.
"Then start talking! What have you done with the Guardians, and where are they now?" Macy questioned, not leaving her fiery eyes.
"We have them locked up in the dungeons! Down the hall, make a left, third door on the right!" North Wind rambled his confession. "Their sidekicks are at the opposite wing! Same hall but opposite directions! But the Guardians won't be there for long!"
"Why is that?" Lea asked, not liking that last part.
Sage snarled, sinking his fangs slightly into Pitch's neck.
"AAAHHH! We're draining them of their beliefs and turning them into Nightmares!" Pitch screamed.
"WHAT?!" Macy and Lea exclaimed at once.
"It's true, I used that black sand Pitch gave me that was made for them that's similar to that other sand guy's but produces bad dreams instead of good ones!" North Wind confessed rapidly. "Once they were locked up and facing their fears, it was the exact energy to get my associate out from that miserable world he was stuck in to back here!"
"So that's it! The evil version of the Guardians we faced are just replicas coming from the real Guardians' personal doubts and fears!" Lea exclaimed in realization. "Pitch is feeding off the negative energy from not just children in this dimension but also from his own enemies to become stronger while weakening them at the same time!"
"That explains why the belief here from kids is getting dangerously low. It's being turned against the Guardians and replaced with Pitch's Nightmares," Macy said.
Sage snarled, hauling Pitch up as he rose to his hind paws and threw him into the wall, knocking him out before launching at North Wind.
"GAAAAAAAH! Get him away!" North Wind exclaimed, already running for his life after Macy let him go.
While Sage was busy putting the bite on the Wind Spirit, Lea hurried to Kailash to see Katherine lying down, nearly fading from existence with Nightlight looking in deep concern.
Even Kailash began honking in worry.
"There's no time to lose! I need one team to help me free the Guardians with the others handling Pitch and North Wind! Along with freeing the Guardians' helpers!" Lea exclaimed, knowing the fate of children's beliefs hangs in the balance.
Sage stopped his chase with a final pounce. "Wildmutt, hold him. Blitzwolfer, hold and keep an eye on Pitch. Alien X and Dad, help Macy with this lot. I'm going with Lea."
"Come on, Nightlight! I'll need your light and courage on this mission!" Lea picked up her little wooden toy before running deep into the hall.
She had no idea what they were about to face down there. But whatever it was, Lea and Sage knew they can't turn back now. Because if they don't do this, all wonder, hope, memories, dreams, fun, and imagination will be gone...forever!
That little blonde brat and her friends may have gotten the jump on me, along with my annoying and idiotic partner, but she will not see coming on nor handle what's waiting for her in the dungeons protecting my prisoners from getting free, Pitch thought, grinning darkly to himself as he knew the battle wasn't over yet for him.