The four teens helped the Guardians for a bit until they were completely awake and well from that Nightmare torture. After taking the lead back to the main room in meeting with Sage's family and Kailash, the Guardians and their rescuers saw a golden-colored man that was floating plus using his sand to chat with Whampire.
Whampire chuckled when he saw the golden man looking nervous as he created a set of snapping fanged jaws. "Don't worry. I'm not the teeth sinking kind of vampire," the Vladat assured him.
"Sandy!" the Guardians and Lea exclaimed together in happiness.
The Guardian of Dreams looked over and happily waved 'hello' to see his friends again.
"You're alive!" Tooth exclaimed in happiness.
"But how? I thought North Wind helped Pitch destroy you!" Jack stated, both amazed yet confused.
"I believe I can help answer that,"
Everyone became a bit startled when a certain Celestialsapien appeared beside them and spoke.
"Alien X! A little more warning next time, please," Macy recommended, placing a hand on her chest.
Wildmutt jumped with joy and happily went up to Alien X, giving the alien a joyful lick on the face. Alien X laughed as he petted the friendly Vulpimancer.
"Sorry. Your Dream-Making friend appeared after you and Katherine left," Alien X explained, talking to Macy. "Turns out, whatever Lea and Sage did, it not only restored the positive balance of children's beliefs and strengthen the Guardians, but it also brought the Sandman back."
"That's great! Did you also find the Guardians' helpers in the opposite dungeon?" Lea asked.
"And safely brought them back to their respected homes in continuing their tasks to bring back the magic," Alien X answered, nodding his head. "I even took care of a few Nightmares still roaming around those areas."
"Speaking of Nightmares, where's Pitch and North Wind?" Jack questioned, still a bit weary on the black starry being.
Alien X pointed at the corner of the room as his answer, showing Pitch and North Wind tied up by bright energy ropes. They even seemed to be surrounded by a sparkling bubble-like shield and sound couldn't be heard from within or out. From out of the shield, Wildmutt and Blitzwolfer were guarding it.
"Until we figure out what to do with them, I had them incased in an energy-sphere to prevent them using their powers and so they won't hear our conversations when discussing information that they could use against us," Alien explained.
"Now that is pretty clever and effective," Macy replied, seriously impressed.
Lea then noticed Sandy bringing out sand images of a candy cane, a tooth, an Easter egg, and snowflake. "Hey, Jack. I think Sandy wants you and the other Guardians."
Seeing what she meant, the Guardian of Fun smiled and hurried over there with the others.
Sage and his friends plus family watched as all the Guardians ran towards Sandy, hugging the short man. All except Katherine, who stood by the shifter.
"Why aren't you over there?" Sage asked.
"I can't, Sage. None of the Guardians should know about me. MiM believed that there was a right time and place for me to reveal not just myself but other things," Katherine explained, looking at the reunited Protectors of Belief before staring at her feet while tugging her hood down more. "Besides, the one I like might not even feel the same way for me as I have for him in after so many centuries in logging him."
Sage growled. "Katherine, one person can't dictate who you can be around," he said, before shoving Katherine close to the other Guardians. "You need your family."
Katherine looked at Sage before the Guardians in front of her that were distance away chatting to each other. For once in her years of being the Guardian of Imagination, she had no idea what to do. Seeing the Guardians up close than her books seemed very different for Katherine. This could be her chance to actually come out of hiding.
"Um..." Katherine gulped, now feeling doubtful and swiftly tried to make her way to Kailash before anyone would notice.
Sage got in the way, grabbing her gently by the wrist and pulling her towards the Guardians.
"Everyone, I want you to meet someone," Sage said through a mouthful.
"Sage, no! What are you doing?! I can't be here anymore! I did what I was supposed to do and now have to go!" Katherine nearly yelled in her whispers to the Wolfblood, struggling her wrist free while trying to tug backwards from getting close to the Guardians. "Let go of me, Sage!"
"No. You know my story, Katherine. You know how I felt when I was alone. I can see in your eyes that you're the same way. It's time to stop thinking like a Guardian and start thinking like a human being," Sage said, pulling a little more till they were in the midst of the Guardians. "It's time for you to be happy."
Katherine didn't need to look up to know she was in front of the Guardians. She just kept her hood plus head down and waved her hand in saying 'hello'.
Sage growled, pushing her in the middle of her back before moving over to Macy. He lightly shoved his head and neck into her arms before looking at Katherine again.
Katherine stumbled forward until she felt someone's body in front of her.
"Whoa! You okay?" a cool voice asked with a gentle and caring way while keeping the girl still from falling.
The auburn-haired girl slowly took a peek up to see that she was in front of Jack Frost before quickly looking down and nodding her head.
Sage smiled, catching a thumbs-up from his uncles and father.
She needs this, Sage said through his mental link to Macy, feeling her arms tighten on him.
"So, are you going to tell us your name or what?" Jack asked, giving an amused smile at the shy girl. "I don't suppose you're related to Lea? Considering you both seem cluzty and quiet, I mean," he joked with a chuckle.
Katherine shook her head and gently got out of his hold, hiding the tint of red in her cheeks. She managed to bump into the Guardian of Memories.
"Hello, sweetie! I love your coat! It's so pretty!" Tooth complimented with glee, spinning around happily. "I bet they're not as pretty as your teeth! May I see them?" She asked, about to reach her hands towards Katherine's face.
"No! No thank you!" Katherine spoke in a gruffy voice as if she had a sore throat, already stepping back away from Tooth.
"Katherine!" Sage called from where he stood.
The Guardian of Imagination stiffened when Sage called out her name in front of the Big Five, feeling everyone looking at her.
"Katherine? As in Lea's bookworm friend?" Jack asked, remembering that name from Lea while at the North Pole before giving a playful smirk. "She told me that you were a bigger fan of us than her. Really nice to meet you."
North looked at the yellow-hooded girl. There was something familiar about her to him. Even the name. He watched Jack try to shake her hand, only for the girl to step back and lower her hood more forward.
"Katherine, let them in. Don't be afraid to speak...To be part of something you want," Sage said, as tears formed in his eyes.
Sighing, Katherine reluctant extended her hand and shook it with Jack Frost's. "It's nice to finally meet you, too, Jackson Overland Frost," she spoke in a normal tone this time.
Bunny moved forward. "Nice to meet you, Sheila."
"Same to you, E. Aster Bunnymund," Katherine gave a smile underneath her hood. "Really an honor to meet a Pooka such as yourself, one of the rarest and most mysterious creatures in the universe personally. I do admire how you protect Spring and ensure the cycle of life every year."
"Oh, I like you," Bunnymund said, smirking at Jack. "Ya hear that, Frostbite? She admires what I do."
Jack rolled his eyes on that, acting like he doesn't care. "Big deal," he scoffed.
"Break out the toast, someone's gettin' jelly," Blitzwolfer joked, making most of his friends laugh.
Katherine held back a chuckle on Jack's somewhat jealousy until she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around, Katherine saw the Guardian of Dreams waving 'hi' and extending his hand to her, as well.
"Sanderson Mansnoozie. The Guardian of Dreams and wisest of them all. Glad to know you're still peaceful yet occasionally playful by nature," Katherine remarked while shaking his hand.
Sandy smiled giving an eloquent bow.
Katherine couldn't help but give another giggle, actually feeling more comfortable meeting the Guardians. She then went up to the Guardian of Memories.
"I'm sorry about earlier, Queen Toothiana. I did not mean to disrespect you," Katherine apologized, rubbing her arm sheepishly. "It's remarkable how you and your Tooth Fairy Armies help young children remember what is important. I'm glad to meet you, as well."
"Oh, sweetie...no harm done. None at all," Tooth said, rubbing Katherine's cheek.
Katherine smiled a bit on Tooth's motherly touch. After she felt the Flying Warrioress let go, Katherine knew that there was one Guardian left to greet. And this was the hardest for her.
North walked forward towards the girl, wondering what she was about to say to him.
"St. Nicolas North. You're probably thinking that you know me somewhere and wanted to ask me if we've met," Katherine started, already getting something out of her jacket pocket before placing it in North's big, right-palmed hand. "This should answer your questions."
As he studied what the girl put in his hand, North's eyes grew wide. From within his hand was a familiar detailed gold compass that was pointing at him.
"It...it can't be..." North muttered, looking at the hooded girl.
"It can...And it is," Katherine answered, lowering her hood to finally reveal her face and tears coming down from her grey eyes. "I missed you, North. So glad to see you again after all these years."
Without warning, she went forward and hugged the rotund man.
Sage smiled; a single tear dripping from the side of his muzzle.
Macy grinned warmly, actually happy to see this joyful reunion.
"Hey, North. Mind telling us what's going on here?" Jack Frost spoke up, a bit confused here.
Sage smiled. "Reminds me of when I met Whampire and Sasha."
"Katherine is a very, very close friend," North said pulling Katherine into a bear hug.
"Indeed. I'm also a Guardian, just like the rest of you," Katherine admitted, squeezing one more hug with North before letting go. "Chosen by the Man in the Moon to protect more than just children's beliefs in us."
"Unbelievable," Bunny said, seriously speechlessly.
"Yay, another girl on the team!" Tooth squealed happily.
"So, what other things do you protect?" Jack questioned, flashing another one of his dashing smiles. "What's your center?"
"Imagination. I like to draw, write, and record what's important," Katherine explained. "They're mostly about all of you. But I also get to explore other dimensional worlds and write about others heroes. Most specifically, the saviors that tagged along with Lea in stopping Pitch's plans and saving all of you."
Bunny looked at the interesting figures standing behind the wolf and white ninja.
"Okay, but who are these blocks, anyway?" Bunny asked.
Lea, whom was watching the whole thing, came in and introduced the team. "These are some new friends I met after our first gathering at the North Pole. All aliens with good hearts. There's Blitzwolfer, Wildmutt, Alien X, Whampire, his son Sage that is a Wolfblood, and Macy."
"Sup," Alien X waved. He noticed Blitzwolfer and Wildmutt eyeing Bunny very carefully with a devilish smirk.
"Don't even think about it, mongrels," Bunny said, leering at the alien canines.
"Is he a... vampire?" Tooth asked, pointing at Whampire.
The Vladat smiled and nodded. "Alien vampire, to be precise," He approached the Tooth Fairy. "So, you're a fan of teeth, huh? How are mine?" He opened his jaw to reveal his sharp, yellow jagged teeth.
Tooth let out a huge scream. "They're horribly-" She paused before saying something regretful. "Splendid!" She lied through her plastered smile.
Whampire frowned. "You don't have to lie. I won't suck your blood out of anger. I may look like a monster, but I don't act like one."
Tooth turned pale as a Vladat. "You really drink blood with those fangs?!"
"Relax, I don't even drink blood,"
"Oh..." Tooth sighed in relief.
"I actually drain people's energy,"
Tooth yelped before hiding behind Jack.
"Real smooth," said Blitzwolfer.
"Dad! Stop scaring the Tooth Fairy," Sage lightly scolded at Whampire before turning to the Guardian of Memories. "Sorry about that. My dad isn't going to drain anyone. Especially to his love ones. Besides, Vladats use an energy substitute."
"And what exactly is this substitute?" Jack questioned, a bit interested.
The Wolfblood looked at Katherine and smiled. "Why don't you tell them, Guardian of Imagination?"
Smiling, Katherine step up to give the answer. "Sugar. Whampire, his older brother, Vamps, and father, Vampiro, use sugar that gives them just enough power the same way like energy does. Another interesting fact about them is the only time they use their teeth in biting their family is either sometimes because of an itch or helping one of their love ones to relax."
The Guardians-minus Katherine-and Lea looked at Sage, Macy, and the others in slight confusement, wondering if what Katherine said was right.
"That's all true. From what I learned about Katherine tonight, she knows practically everything about us," Macy remarked. "Anyway, to change the subject, I'm also Sage's girlfriend and happen to enjoy taking down baddies," she explained, pounding her fist to her palmed hand with a smirk and folding her arms. "And I have to admit, you Guardians are seriously a lot different than I expected. I never pictured Santa Claus as a Russian Thief Fighter, the Easter Bunny as a lean Australian Warrior, the Tooth Fairy as a Hummingbird Lady, or Jack Frost looking around my age plus striking in appearance."
Tooth smiled. "We all just want to make the kids happy. My look actually comes from Southeast Asia."
Sage smirked, wagging his tail. "Well, you all definitely know how to handle yourselves."
"Never heard of a Wolfblood," Jack said, moving around Sage curiously.
"Oh, you should hear the whole story about them," Macy recommended, chuckling. "It's nearly exciting as all of you."
"Tooth lives in Southeast Asia?! No way!" Lea exclaimed.
"It's true. Tooth's Palace is at Southeast Asia, hidden in the Yellow Mountain Range of Huangshan. It's supposed to be beautiful and her little fairy helpers are the ones who collect the teeth all over the globe and place them in the Library of Memories," Katherine explained. "Although Queen Toothiana supervises the operations and sends her fairies on where to go, she occasionally gets a chance to collect the teeth herself, in order to see the kids. She did that ever since the events when Pitch once stole Tooth's fairies and the children's memory teeth. It's also when the Guardians came up with a plan to keep kids believing in her by collecting the teeth themselves and ended up turning it into a competition."
Lea held back a laugh on that. "Why does that not surprise me?"
Sage chuckled. "Nothing can surprise me anymore. At least, when it comes to magic."
"Boy, I'll say," Macy commented, now looking at Katherine. "How badly did this competition thing go for the boys?"
"Let's just say that they were so caught up in getting more teeth than the others that they forgot to leave behind gifts," Katherine answered, placing a hand on her mouth from letting out a loud laugh.
Lea, however, couldn't hold it anymore and just laughed while holding her stomach. "How could you guys possibly forget such an important part in the Guardian of Memories' job?!"
"Now that's just ironic," Macy remarked, shaking her head while smiling.
Sage chuckled. "Let me guess. You guys didn't have actual time for children while you were helping children, as well?"
"Um...Yes," North admitted sheepishly.
Now it was Jack's turn to laugh. "That is literally what North told me back in the Warren when handling a little girl that accidentally ended up there by North's snow globes!"
That made the blonde teen stop laughing. "Wait, what?! You had a child in Bunny's home and no one even noticed it?!" Lea exclaimed, now more horrifyingly shocked than excitedly amazed.
"I don't think that was a wise move to tell Lea about that one, Jack," Katherine pointed out.
Sage laughed. "Sounds about as bad as three pre-teen boys following a wolf to a haunted house," he said, looking at Macy and his father and uncles.
Blitzwolfer and Whampire laughed heartily.
Macy groaned while facepalming about that event. "And what's worse, one of those boys happened to be my little brother. Along with him and his friends sneaking out at night to solve the mystery of looking for the heroes in that town. I swear, those boys will be the death of me, one of these days."
"Yeah, but can we please get back to the whole 'little girl in the Warren' subject?! How exactly did that happen?!" Lea nearly shouted, not interested in that Grant Mansion story. "Did you at least manage to get her back home safely!?"
Jack rubbed the back of his neck, trying to find the right words. "I kind of sicked Jamie's greyhound, Abby, on Bunny that managed to create the event from there."
"And, to answer that last question, Jack Frost did take her home before her parents realized she was missing," Katherine added.
Lea blinked, seriously stunned. "Wait...Jamie? As in Jamie Bennett? And the little girl that was in Bunny's Warren. Was her name Sophie?"
"Um, yeah. Jamie could see the others and Abby caught sight of Bunny. Bunny was acting uppity and I started Jamie's alarm clock that got Abby's racing mojo going," Jack said with a smirk, laughing at the memory.
"Oh, dear," Katherine muttered, taking a few steps back from what's about to happen next.
"WHAT?! Are you out of your fun-loving mind, Frost?! You could have gotten Jamie hurt! Just like that crazy sleigh ride you pulled!" Lea nearly shouted in anger that surprised everyone, including Jack. "Are you trying to give them heart attacks or broken bones?! And what about Sophie!? How could you let her get one of North's snow globes without realizing it?!"
Jack shrugged. "But they didn't."
The Guardians' response was a kick in the teeth for Lea.
"Lea, kids are only kids for a little while," The Guardian of Fun reasoned. "So they have to experience a little action before they become boring grown-ups."
Bunny shook his head. "Sometimes, your humor escapes me, Frost."
Katherine lightly facepalmed on Jack Frost's response while letting out a long hard sigh. Oh, for the love of all things children believe in. Why must he occasionally be such a handsome simpleton? She thought to herself and lowering her head before shaking it.
"Boring grown-ups?!" Lea exclaimed, seriously offended by that. "Is that what you think of me!?"
"Okay, break it up, you two! Also, how do you even know those specific names on those kids and dog, Lea? Along with the events?" Macy asked the blonde teen, real curious about the Teen Believer's knowledge while trying to prevent this conversation from getting ugly. "Did Katherine tell you about that story?"
Katherine shook her head again, after lifting her head up and removing her hand from her face. "I only gave her the Jack Frost story. Along with telling her a few other known legends with some of them involving the Grant Mansion."
Sage looked at Lea for a moment before understanding. "You're related to them. Aren't you? I know that look of worry anywhere. It happens with family a lot."
Sighing, Lea nodded her head. "Remember when I mentioned about having cousins in a hometown that I stopped going to five years back? Well, Jamie and Sophie Bennett are those cousins, and the town they live in is called Burgess."
The Guardians looked at Lea worriedly.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Jack asked.
"I had other things on my mind during that insane first meet! Besides, it's hard to talk about family members you haven't seen in years. Especially when it was during a time where our grandparents passed away," Lea admitted, rubbing her arm anxiously. "I'm not even sure if they still want to see me after so much heartache and pain."
Jack sighed before pulling Lea into a hug, using his wooden staff to hold around her waist and hook her the way a shepherd does with his sheep. "Of course they do. Family is family, and nothing ever changes that," he lucid, rubbing the girl's back in comfort.
"Even if it's a broken one?" Lea questioned, still not convinced.
"Lea, your cousins love you just as much as you love them," Katherine reasoned. "Why do you think I hurried back to New York earlier tonight? It's because I came to Jamie and Sophie while protecting them from a Nightmare Horse that was about to take them. They were worried about you, and Jamie asked me to go find plus protect you."
The blonde teen looked at the Guardian of Imagination in surprise. "...Really?"
"Yes. And I'm glad that they did. I found you trying to stand your ground against that Jackmare creature!"
"Lea. Macy and I are proof that when something was broken, it's never really broken. There's always time for hope and love," Sage said, looking at Macy for a moment.
"Wolf Boy's right. We've all had experienced heartaches before in our past lives, but we eventually got through them," Macy reasoned.
"Even the Guardians and myself have gone through such a remorseful event. Before and after," Katherine added.
Lea looked at the Guardians, whom nodded their heads on what Katherine said was true.
"Huh..." the blonde teen muttered.
Sage smiled. "North, mind if I make a request for a sleigh ride out of season?"
"Not at all. Everyone loves the sleigh after all," North answered, knowing where Sage was going with this.
"Sleigh ride?" Lea questioned, totally at a slight lost.
"I have an idea that has worked before," Sage said with a wink. "Besides, I want to see the look on Tommy's face when I said that I rode in Santa's sleigh."
Macy couldn't help but laugh at that. "Oh, man, somebody get a camera for that one! I want to keep it and save it as my screensaver!"
Whampire laughed, along with Blitzwolfer and Alien X.
"What are we going to do with these two?" Bunny asked, looking at Pitch and North Wind, whom were currently hog tied.
"Well, I know a certain Miser Brother that could handle North Wind and have him sent to Mother Nature in knowing an appropriate punishment," Lea suggested. "Snow Miser!" she called out.
Snow Miser appeared from an ice-like stalagmite, shattering it with over gusto and ending in an elegant bow. "You called, milady?"
Lea chuckled and nodded her head. "We were able to rescue the Guardians and bring back children's beliefs. We also got your brother and Pitch Black," she explained, directing her hand to where the two troublemakers were located. "May you please make sure to take North Wind back home to your dimensional world and have Mother Nature know what happened so she can think of a punishment for him?"
"Oh, mother is going to being pulling him over her knee for this one," Snow Miser smirked. "As you wish, my lady. Would you like me to...deal with this hoodlum as well?" he sneered down at Pitch Black.
"I guess it all depends on what my friends think," Lea answered, looking at the Guardians, Sage's family, and Macy. "Is that okay?"
Sage looked at Pitch for a moment, his eyes hard. "Personally, I think we should stick him in a playpen with a bunch of toddlers giggling and laughing about how much he looks like Severus Snape. However, I think a mother's stern disposition may be what he needs."
Bunny nodded. "A place where this wanker is away from children is good enough for me."
"Same," Tooth said with Sandy nodding.
"I'm fine with whatever," Macy shrugged.
"Okay, then. Seeing that everyone agrees, you may also bring Pitch Black for Mother Nature to handle, too, Snow Miser," Lea answered. "Thanks again for helping us. Even though we jumped to conclusions and nearly thought you were behind all of this. I'm really glad that you weren't."
"Not a problem, milady," Snow Miser said, snagging his brother and the Man of Darkness by their collars after Alien X made the shield around them disappear.
"Snow Miser, hang on," Sage said, moving over to the two spirits. "Either of you come near my friends or family, and you'll be dealing with worse than bruises or slobber on your person."
"And even though darkness finds a way back, there will always be light to keep everything what children believe in alive," Macy added, walking over Sage's side confidently.
"You two better watch yourselves," Snow Miser warned. "These two have very effective team work and persuasion."
He was right. Although foiled again, Pitch Black was plotting in his mind in getting revenge on those who stopped him and Northwind's brilliant plan in turning the Guardians into Nightmares. Especially on the blonde teen and secret Guardian. All he could do was give a small glare at Lea, knowing this will not be the last she'll see him.
Snow Miser then disappeared in a snow and ice tornado with Pitch and North Wind. Sage turned to Lea with a smile.
"Let's take that ride," Sage said.