Do not own either Rise of the Guardians or the Sandman comics.
The explanation of why the Sandman came to life. I thought about how The Guardians' Sandman is like Hans Christian Andersons' Sandman. But also I wonder how the other Sandman from Neil Geiman would fit and hence this came to pass.
No Beta so errors are my own.
Loosely after The Sandman's Boon although not a required read.
Edit February 2019.
XIXIXIXIXIXIX
Morpheus waited in the land of in-between. He felt serene as his Dream essence was drained to manifest itself in Daniel. But now he waited. It could have been a few minutes to a few centuries, time does not exist here. So he waited for what will happen.
Morpheus looks over his shoulder and sees a strange but familiar sight, it was small little round man made of gold sand.
"Nice to see you, Sanderson, I surprise to see the King of Sweet Dreams here waiting for Death."
The King of Sweet Dreams shrugged and gave him a knowing look.
Morpheus airily laughed, "I could not change, so I died." A pause. "So is Kozmotis living up to his new powers? I hoped that by giving him those powers, it would balance your influence over the Dream realm in addition to fulfilling the boon. But then again you are here, so I am assuming that your law-kinsman shot you in the back."
Sanderson gave that look with the non-existent voice saying, How do you know that Pitch shot me in the back? Sanderson looks at him in curiosity.
Morpheus sighed, "I know what goes on between the two of you. King of Sweet Dreams and King of Nightmares, are two sides of the same coin that both fall under my domain with the same power, even if you hid it with the love and smiles and him with his shadows and fear."
Sandy says nothing and moves to another topic. I thought that his Nightmare Sand had your touch in it. It seem odd for him to affect dreams now. I do wonder why though, did you do it this way? A way to have Seraphina's forgiveness by returning her father to her? Sandy paused his introspection, I understand, as even I know that for the Light there is Darkness. I assuming that Tsar Lunar does not know of your involvement.
"Just like he does not know of your connection with me," Morpheus crackled but pausing and becoming serious again, "Beside, Lunar is a child who never suffered the hardship of the 'Golden Era'. I would not tell him anything that endanger the balance with his tendency of labeling things as good and evil. He is a child in all but body," Morpheous said with a scoff of disdain.
Sandy nodded in acknowledgement of his elder. I think it worked. Your presence is already suppressing the Fearling influence. Pitch is more like his old self, at least from what I remembered in my spotty memory and can be confirmed somewhat by his daughter. I hope to get to know him but now that is not definite once again. Sandy mused sadly, I do not fear death, I fear many things, that, you are aware of but I will still miss living.
Morpheus looks at the King of Sweet Dreams, "Well maybe who ever this particular Death will be can send you back, Sandy."
Sandy rolled his eyes smiled with amusement before looking down in shame.
"You know that it was never your fault, the Fall of the Golden Era, they were doomed the moment that they sought to contain fear," hummed Morpheus, "Take this from someone that seen the beginning and end of many empires. For every golden age, there is a dark age."
Sandy looked down and with the non-extant voice, I know it not my fault but then I still remember. I do not want happened to the Constellations happen to Earth and its precious children.
"I envy that you are willing to atone for actions that are not even your own. You are so old for most creatures yet you love them and acknowledge their youthful wisdom. You have flaws yet you are aware and embrace them. You can adapt more easily than many of the younger races yet still remember the old ways. You have unimaginable power that could even challenge one of us, yet you would use it to clean up my messes if it was needed. You truly earned the title, Sandman. Although Lunar did a good job in making you famous."
Sandy silently chuckled, if I depended solely on beliefs, well, that would not work.
They chatted a bit before silence descended. In the in-between, a figure approached, he wore a black cloak with a white skull mask. Morpheus grinned, "Ahh, one of Death's children, the Grim Reaper."
It was a strange sight watching the Grim Reaper bounce towards them like a child but a common one for both of them.
"Whuzz up! Ready to go?" Giving them his customary foam-hand-thing greeting. The Grim Reaper beckoned to follow.
The Dream King and the King of Sweet Dreams followed.
Arriving that what appears to be their final stop (although it not obvious) Lord Death turned to the Sandy, the living cloak said, "His Nocturnal Magnificence, Sanderson Mansnoozie, Sandman the First, Lord High Protector of Sleep and Dream; it is not your time yet, So you go on the left." Turning to his Uncle Morpheus, the Grim Reaper said, "Right, is where you're going Morpheus, the Dream Shaper…" the Grim Reaper looked to say more before giggling interrupted them. In the shadows was a child with pale skin and black hair that is cut by white stripes.
The Grim Reaper sighed and said, "Sorry but you will have to go on your own since I have a naughty son to catch."
Sandy smiled and sent out a dream dust necklace for the child. The child caught it and smiled before running away.
The Grim Reaper sighed, "I have to find him before he gets lost…again, goodbye." The next moment the Grim Reaper vanishes.
Morpheus looked to Sandy and said bluntly, "Your titles are ridiculous."
Sandy gave him a look of agreement adding, Lunar is a child of the Golden Era, so impractical titles are a norm.
Morpheus snorted before sobering up, "So goodbye then."
Sandy turned to return to the living but when he tried to leave, an invisible wall stops him. Sandy frowned and looked though the wall. Still with a frown voiced, I am too far in Death to leave.
"So you're trapped in limbo until your believers return your auxiliary strength or until you're in too far and will die," Morpheus blandly added.
Sandy just gave a nod. Then an eye roll, smart-aleck.
Morpheus frowned. When Sandy looked at him, it reminded him of long ago when he first meet Sanderson, when the celestial was only a child. He watched him rise to fame as a weapon maker, a warrior, then fall in fire only to arise from the ashes like a phoenix, and a wish giver and eventually a dream giver. Yet even with the centuries of guilt and pain, it could not take away those kind forgiving eyes. What he would give to make sure the relatively young (to him) Star have a chance to give good dreams to children, to avoid the pain that others would never know because of him. Morpheus smile, a way that will save him… He knew that it could cause some unknown repercussions but… he was dead so it matters little if only for Sandy to live again, besides his successor will set things as they should.
He smiled at Sandy which Sandy noticed with precaution. Sandy looked around as if to see a possible escape. Ah, old habits die hard. "Trust me, if this works you will be strong enough to return to the world of the living and I will find peace."
Sandy looked like he was thinking about it. When he looked at Morpheus eyes, eyes that he recognized for centuries of guidance, mentorship, and wisdom, he knew, if nothing else, he could trust his judgment for his last gift. Sandy nodded.
Getting close to Sandy, Morpheus smiled goodbye before closing his eyes
Sandy looked in shock as Morpheus started to glow a light that seem to pour from him. Morpheus whispered, "Take my strength into yourself. And remember, always be willing to forgive but never forget. A lesson I learned too late."
It was then the last remnants of Morpheus the Dream Shaper faded with only the glowing orb that remained floating in the air. Sandy's outstretched hands carefully grasp the orb. The orb fades to reveal a huge black pearl that shimmers with power. A dreamstone.
And so, Sandy silently let tears of sadness drip down as with a heavy heart, he press the gently pulsing pearl into his chest and gave a silent gasp as it melts into his body.
Sandy curled over and a silent scream of pain, sorrow, guilt, and joy.
Sandy still gasping from when he stood, he could feel it, Pitch is wavering, and so with a snap, the gasping Sandy was gone and now floated the Sandman Victorius.
With a shaky sigh, Sandy entered the world of the living along with the last remnants of Morpheus the Dream.
The Sandman returned in a shower of gold as the strength of dreams and realities flowed in him.