Alaia Skyhawk: SURPRISE! Yep, it's a NEW ROTG/Guardians of Childhood story, tied to my extremely popular "Secret of Frost and Moon". I've been waiting to start on this for quite a while, but needed to get up to a certain point in SF&M, or the opening scene of this would have been a spoiler (That said, bear in mind that if you've not read chapter 71 of that story, the opening scene of this has spoilers lol)

And so, without further ado, I declare that here is the first chapter of "Dreamer and Shadows" Enjoy :D

Disclaimer: I don't own Rise of the Guardians, the Guardians of Childhood, or any related characters etc. This story is written purely for entertainment purposes.

Summary: All stories begin somewhere, to weave themselves into the endless cloth of life that flows towards the future. Some threads stand out more than others, and in time can change the pattern of the cloth forever. This is the story of how one person created just such a change. A story of 'The Sandman' and the Fall of the Golden Age.

~(-)~

Chapter 1: A Beginning

The little golden man smiled to himself, sighing in contentment as he watched the antics of his friends. The Guardians gathered around a table laden with food and drink for this celebration, of Tsar Lunar's silent declaration of his intent to build a New Golden Age.

Sandy glanced down at the moonsilver pin now fastened to his dreamsand neck-kerchief, feeling a sense of pride in wearing the 'G' that was his new badge of office. Likewise the others held themselves with a similar unspoken confidence, hands straying now and then to the belt/sash/bandoleer/cloak that they'd been given bearing that same symbol.

By far the once making the most noise right now was Jack, whose new silvery-blue cloak didn't exactly match his hoodie although he certainly didn't care about that. Instead he was cracking jokes, poking fun at Bunny, and in occasional moments of quiet he'd glance at the guest of honour to make sure he didn't need anything.

That guest was what made Sandy smile the most, and his presence helped heal a hurt and sense of failure that had dwelt in him for so very long... Kosmotis; now freed from the Fearlings and no longer possessed by the personality that had been the Nightmare King. Freed to rebuild a life beside his daughter, Mother Nature, and to forge a new path and future for himself as the Steward of Natural Fear. Chosen by fate, it seemed, to help ensure that the Fearlings that had enslaved him for so long, could never harm anyone ever again.

Sandy sighed once more, wistful with memories. Able to see the differences between Kosmotis' present uncertainty and tentativeness, and the confident and courageous general he'd been so long ago. He would be that man again, given time to heal. Yet the memories remained, lingering like a faint melody in the mind, as Sandy closed his eyes and nodded off to sleep. To dream of how far he'd come, and how much he himself had changed. Since that day so very long ago when his own story had first begun...

~(-)~

As is generally the case with most stories, they have to have a beginning. And as is generally the case in numerous stories about people, they begin on the day the person was born.

For the individual who would one day be known as 'The Sandman', this was just the case. Yet his birth was not of any particular significance, being one of many similar ones that day, nor was it celebrated with fireworks or fanfare. The only cheers and tears of joy came from his parents. And of course there were the various relatives, midwives, and nurses who came and went to coo over 'how cute and precious' he was.

Now you would think a baby would be pleased at all this attention, blinking up at you and gurgling as they wriggle in their mother's arms. But in truth all infants stare at you because they are completely confused by this extremely strange turn of events. For until this moment they had know and solved all the secrets of the universe, those being the following.

The universe is warm, sort of floaty, and dark. It bumps around a little from time-to-time, and weird noises can be heard coming from the walls on a regular basis. It was also a particular size perfect to curl up in nice and still, or to wriggle in if one so chose... And lastly, there were never any surprises...

Until after nine months the universe decides that your eviction notice is due, and you are shoved without ceremony into an alternate realm where absolutely nothing makes sense anymore.

Yep, happy birthday.

It is at this point that an infant begins to reassess things. For surely, they realise, they have heard some of these strange beings through the walls of the universe. They then begin to ponder the scientific implications of this discovery, until a previously never-experienced thought interrupts their internal debate and all else from the previous nine months is forgotten forever.

And the thought? Well, it generally falls into one of three categories:

'I'M HUNGRY! FEED ME NOWWWWWW!'

'I'M WET AND SMELLY! SOMEBODY DO SOMETHING!'

'BLOODY HECK, IT'S DRAUGHTY OUT HERE!'

...And yet in the case of one Sanderson Imannuel Snoozie, the thought was this.

'Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.'

Little Sanderson was not concerned with his sudden change of environment, nor was he particularly confused about it. He had not solved the mysteries of the universe, but rather had sat in his warm little place and wondered what it could be that made the noises outside. He'd also begun to contemplate the possibility of going to see what they were at some point, if only he could figure out how to get there. And so when his eviction notice came due and he found himself confronted with strange faces and cooing noises, his priorities took a sudden change.

He wasn't bothered about finding out what the noises were anymore, because they turned out not to be that big a deal. All he was interested in now, was sleeping. Which he did, wrapped up nice and warm in a nice soft blanket, held in his mother's arms.

Lillia Ann Snoozie gazed at her child, wearing the soft smile of a mother who was marvelling at the little one she had just brought into the world. Her little golden boy, with his cute tuft of wispy blond hair. She wasn't completely sure what colour his eyes were yet, they'd been open for only a few moments before her son had yawned and promptly fallen asleep. But from that brief glimpse she believed they were the same amber as the boy's father, who at this very moment now came through the door of this bright and airy room in the 'Welcome Centre for Newly Arrived Infants'.

She smiled, holding out their son.

"He's here, Jason. Isn't he just perfect?"

Jason Petrell Snoozie gently took hold of his son, to gaze at him with the proud smile of a new father.

"Asleep already? The trip must have tired him out."

Roused by being passed to his father, the child chose that moment to open his eyes again. Revealing that they were indeed the same amber as his father, who he seemed to squint at for a few seconds before yawning and closing his eyes again.

Lillia chuckled.

"Maybe."

She got up from her chair, and reached for the bag which the midwife had already re-packed for her. Lillia wasn't stiff from the labour, or even particularly sore. Not after being tended by a midwife with a Certificate of Excellence in the use of Belief to aid the arrival of children. She had simply helped Lillia to believe, as she did, that the effort wouldn't be too tiring, that everything would go swiftly and well, and that the child would be just fine when he arrived. And so, in the way of Belief when used right, that was exactly what had happened.

Within minutes the Snoozies were walking out of the Welcome Centre for Newly Arrived Infants, to where Mr Snoozie had parked his flying carriage. No sooner than they had then climbed in, than the vehicle had spread its feathered wings and soared up into the air. Needing nothing more from the driver than the name of the destination, to send it skimming up amongst the clouds which were dotted with many other marvellous and varied flying carriages.

Below them were rolling green hills, lush with flowers that glittered with magic, and retreating to the distance behind them were the dazzling white crystal spires of the City of Lunestra where they'd been just a short while before. The entire scene, from horizon to horizon, framed against the sky for which this world was best known.

For only on Lumeris would one find a sky that in daytime was blue near the horizon and yet an eternal star-scape higher up. And even at night the horizon never darkened completely, instead transforming into shimmering curtains of gold and silver. Like a crown to hold up the stars and the three moons passing overhead.

A fitting world to be the home of the Lunanoffs, the oldest and greatest of the Constellation Families. Wise leaders, all, and creators of the Immortals who were guides and teachers that watched over the worlds under each family's care. For this was the Golden Age, where no mortal had known fear or suffering in all of living memory. A great time of magic, the Power of Belief. Of imagination and inspiration, of joy and peace.

Little Sanderson was to grow up knowing nothing else but that happy life, blessed by the good fortune of being born in such a benevolent and wonderful time. Free to pursue whatever dreams he might have, to be whatever he decided he wished to be, just as all children in the Golden Age were free to do.

And for Lillia and Jason, that too was exactly what they expected and wished for their son. Blissfully unaware of the shadows lurking beyond the light of their idyllic lives, and of the unusual role their son would one day play in the future to come.

~(-)~

Alaia Skyhawk: And there you have it. Baby Sandy is such a cute little bugger lol. I hope you guys enjoyed this first chapter :)