First i'd like to state that neater the Rise of the Guardians the movie, nor The Guardians of Childhood books belong to me. (Sadly T_T) They belong to DreamWorks and William Joyce.

This is my very first fan fiction ever, so please go easy on me! XD First I just like to give a shout out to my amazing editor Fantasydreamer244, without her not this would've been possible XD. Guys she is also an amazing author, so if you like Rise of the Guardians you need to go read her stories! And just a quick word of warning, a lot of the content in my story will contain information, characters, and facts from the original book series. So if you haven't read those you might be a little confused. But that just means you need to go read them! I'm currently reading the novels for the third time, and it definitely won't be the last! XD Yes they are that good! If you guys like the Rise of the Guardians movie, you should definitely read the books! Anyway, please let me know what you think of the story, I would love reviews and comments! XD

So now without any further ado, I present to you, for the first time ever and anywhere:

Of Shadows and Moonlight

Prologue:

Pitch Black

It hadn't even been one year since Pitch's defeat at the hands of the Guardians. Not even one year since he had been turned on by his own accursed nightmares, and dragged back down into his lair. He had been so close, so close to getting rid of those accursed Guardians once and for all! He would've won, he would've completely destroyed all belief in those arrogant fools. Had it not been for him. That frosted little brat! He was the one flaw, the one stain in his otherwise flawless plan that he hadn't considered, and it was what had done him in.

But how could he have considered it? He was nothing; it didn't even cross his mind that Jack Frost would be involved in all this. He'd been abandoned by the Guardians, and their precious moon for 300 years. No one could've predicted that he would have been involved. But Pitch still couldn't understand it. Frost should've hated the Guardians! They could've cared less about his existence until the moon told them he was to be a Guardian. Yet, he had the nerve to turn Pitch down! Even after they turned on him during Easter, he still refused Pitch's offer to join him. If it hadn't been for him and that accursed last light Jamie Bennett, his victory would've been assured.

But no matter, he had all the time in the world to get his revenge on the Guardians. He would be back, he would always be back. There will always be fear, and he would see the world shrouded in it, even if it took him the rest of eternity. He would bring about a new dark age, and he wouldn't stop until he saw the world cowering in fear…..

Or so he thought. But, little did he know, that his life, the lives of the Guardians, the very forces of darkness itself, were about to be changed forever.

Tsar Lunar, the Man in the Moon

It was time, and Tsar Lunar knew it. Pitch had come too close. Too close to defeating the Guardians, and far too close to destroying the lights of the world's children.

Something had to be done. The senseless fighting had to stop.

Tsar Lunar was no fool. He knew how much the world needed the darkness, how much it needed fear. Fear protected people; it kept them from doing stupid and dangerous things. Without fear wars would constantly be raging, children would wander off into the forest's at night or onto a busy road. Without fear of death, we would have no reason to fight and survive. Without fear the world would not know courage. Though too much fear would be just as devastating as no fear at all. He knew that very well. Fear was necessary. Pitch Black was necessary. But there must always be a balance. For every shadow, there must be a light to keep the dangers of the darkness at bay. Just as for every light, a shadow must be created to keep the light from burning to brightly only to go out in the end.

However, neither Pitch, nor the Guardians seem to realize this. Ever since the dark ages the balance of light and darkness has been tipped back and forth, time and time again. But, it has gone too far this time. Nearly all light in the world was destroyed, and the world was just barely saved from being thrown back into the dark ages.

"This war has to end. If it doesn't, I fear the next battle will destroy the world's balance altogether. It doesn't matter who would win, the light or the darkness, the world wouldn't be able to survive losing either."

With a heavy sigh Tsar Lunar composed himself, he looked down, smiling fondly at the small bundle of blankets he was holding gently. No, he would not allow that to happen. He wouldn't allow this suffering to occur, especially not to the children. He knew what he had to do. But still he was hesitant, and couldn't help but feel anxious about what was about to occur. He pushed those emotions aside; he could not allow that to stop him from doing what he knew had to be done. He had faith, and he had hope. He knew it would be hard, but also knew that everything will be the way it's supposed to be when this was over. He could feel it, as North would say 'in his belly.'

Carefully cradling the small bundle in his arms, he made his way to the highest open balcony of his palace, where Nightlight was waiting for him.

Now Nightlight, being the man in the moon's oldest friend, as well as his Guardian, had every faith in him. But that did not stop him from feeling very unsure about this plan.

Now like Jack Frost, Nightlight was a being of fun, mischief and happiness. Because of that, he rarely felt anxious or nervous about anything. He actually couldn't remember the last time he felt this way. But he knew one thing for sure, he didn't like it. He knew exactly how dangerous and maniacal Pitch was. He had been trapped inside his cold, un-beating heart for centuries! He had tried to turn Tsar Lunar into a Fearling Prince, and Katherine into a Fearling Princess! He had tried to destroy the Guardians more times than he would care to remember.

So, knowing what was about to happen, what he was about to do, it left him feeling like his chest was being crushed, and his insides were being strangled. He felt suffocated, and he felt something that he had not felt in hundreds of years, something that he felt only a few times before. He felt fear.

Fear for her. About what Pitch might do to her. He didn't like this, he didn't like it one bit.

He had been watching her for the past few days since she first arrived. The man in the moon asked him to take care of her while everything was being prepared. He had watched over and cared for her, just as he had done for MIM when he was a baby. And he quickly grew attached to her, and very protective. He saw her in the same sort of way he had once seen the man in the moon, but also in a different way, a way he didn't understand. He wasn't quite sure what he was feeling.

Nightlight never had siblings, or any family really, besides the man in the moon and his parents. So he didn't realize that what he felt was the love an older brother would feel for his little sister. Though Nightlight wasn't sure what he was feeling, the man in the moon did. He knew just how hard this was for Nightlight, how much he cared for the child. This was even harder on Nightlight than it was on himself. When he had first told Nightlight of his intentions, to say that he was shocked would be the understatement of the century. He went to a state of morbid panic and shock, as did all the moonbeams. Though they were flickering, murmuring to one another, and flying around in mass hysteria. Trying to figure out why in the name of the constellations their master would do such a thing. While Nightlight just stood there, looking at the Tsar is if he had just been slapped. When the moonbeams finally settled down, and MIM explained his reasoning for all of this, they joined in with Nightlight and just looked at him like he'd lost his freaking mind.

But still, they knew he was right. Plus it wasn't like any of them could go against him anyway. They couldn't even if they wanted to, which they never would. Nightlight especially, he was the man in the moon's Guardian, and closest friend. He knew that he would've never made a decision like this unless it was absolutely necessary. He trusted the Tsar completely. But that still didn't stop them from feeling the way he was now.

Nightlight gave a small, almost forced smile as he saw Tsar Lunar approach. MIM return the smile, though it was just as forced as Nightlight's. He slowly and very gently handed the bundle over to Nightlight. Both treating it with such care one would think that they were handling glass. Nightlight's smile faded altogether when he looked down on it. His face showing the pure sorrow he felt about having to see her go, and about what was waiting for her. MIM saw how much pain his friend was in, and gently placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"I know old friend. But it's what has to be done. If anyone has hope of being able to change him, it's her. She's the only one who can set things right, all we can do now is believe in her. Believe that this will all turn out right. But we will always be watching over her. I know for a fact that you won't let anything happen. I almost feel sorry for Pitch, for what you're going to do to him if he ever tries anything."

Nightlight gave a small smile to that, and he couldn't help but laugh a little. Knowing that MIM was being completely serious, but still saying it as if he were joking. He was right, no matter what, he would never, ever let Pitch harm her. If he did, what nearly happened all those years ago at Punjam Hy Loo wouldn't even begin to compare to what he was going to do to him.

So with one last mournful look to his old friend, Nightlight shot up into the night sky with the small child held protectively in his arms. Racing away from the setting sun, down to earth and away from the Moon Palace, still not at all ready for what he was about to do.

Tsar Lunar stood there on the open terrace of his palace, watching his most faithful friend leave with what could very well be the key to ending this war. When Nightlight could no longer be seen in the distance, he looked up to his parent's constellation. Silently praying that what he had just done was not a grievous mistake.