Golden sand drifted past windows, as giant dinosaurs stomped and roamed the streets. Planes flew overhead, looping and twisting with dragons. In this chaos, a single, tiny man dressed in softly glowing gold stood. Hands swayed in time to unheard tunes, golden sand streaming out to curl around houses.

They didn't get far before they were twisting and turning again, reshaping into brilliant dreams that the children had no problems creating for themselves. Dogs chasing cats, mice chasing dogs, toys marching in rows- the small man pulled his hands back with a smile.

The children here were dreamers, real dreamers. He barely had to do a thing!

A silent laugh shook the man as he drifted along the tops of the houses. Meow~

The cats meow caught his attention. The Sandman whirled, delight lighting up his face as he noticed the cat sitting on the rooftop. It looked at him, golden eyes almost glowing in the dark. It stood, and stretched, the black form nearly lost in the darkness.

Sandy twitched his fingers, and a golden fish darted around the cat. The cat meowed again, excitement lighting up tis eyes as it took off in a rush after the fish. Sandy laughed as he chased after the cat and fish, the dream sand around them curling into thin strips of golden glow. That's when he saw it.

There was a bright light from above, and Sandy paused in his joyful chase, twisting to look up. A shooting star streaked through the heavens above. Sandy's eyes widened at the sight- it wasn't an asteroid falling to earth, or a comet. He could tell. For as the shooting star streaked by, and wishes began to rise into the air, he could hear them as well. And he could feel the dream already being dreamed to be sent back to the children, a far more powerful dream then the ones that Sandy could create.

The sandman's hands dropped as he stared at the shooting star, as it passed by above his head. A fierce longing arose in him, to go back to the stars. He shoved it down brutally. He couldn't go back, and even if he did manage it... life was far too interesting to sleep away like he had originally been doing.

Sandy turned away from the shooting star, collecting his dust, and heading out of town- the children's wishes and the dreams sent would drive back Pitch. He didn't need to be here. Instead... North. He would visit North. The action was always there, and always distracting. No one would notice one person in the workshop.


The North Pole, and North's workshop, as always, was a bedlam of chaos, especially as Christmas drew ever nearer. Yetis dashed everywhere, carrying giant boxes full of toys, attempting to prepare as elves got underfoot. North, standing at the center of the bedlam, watched everything with a critical eye, noticing small slip-ups and silently cursing the elves. He was quite surprised when the golden figure drifted in, dodging Yetis and keeping his sand to himself.

North had been certain that Sandy was out in a small town called Garfield over in America tonight. What could've possibly chased him away? Surely not Pitch- "Sandy! You are here surprisingly early! Didn't run into problems I hope?"

Sandy shook his head, and North expected a smile. There was no smile. Just a simple sand figure making the motion of everything being taken care of. Then, as quickly as the figure was there, it vanished in a puff of sand. It was almost as if Sandy was ashamed of his sand, which North quickly shoved out of mind. Sandy was the oldest, most powerful of the group, and one of the few that could face Pitch on equal terms.

"Well then, you're welcome to the Eggnog and cookies my friend! Just... try to keep the elves busy, would you please?" North pleaded- Christmas wasn't even a month off, and the elves were beginning to get really bothersome.

The Sandman nodded, and drifted closer to the elves, making quick sand pictures above his head to catch their attention (somewhat half-heartedly). The elves squealed in delight and immediately started dashing off, tugging Sandy after them. Sandy walked after them, his chubby form somehow managing to keep up.

North watched the Sandman go with a frown, tugging at his beard. "That is odd. Very, odd." It was almost as if... Was Sanderson refusing to float? But that made no sense really. But then again, Sandy was acting very oddly tonight, even odder than when Pitch had attacked and nearly killed the being. Sandy had bounced right back from that as if it was nothing. This... wasn't.

North waited until Sandy had vanished in the direction of the kitchens, before knocking on the wooden wall. It was connected to a certain rabbits tunnels, and North always knocked loud enough that the sharp ears could catch the noise. It would signal Bunnymund to come, and Jack was last known bothering the Guardian of Hope. He would leave Toothina out of this for right now- she was busy enough trying to reorganize after the recent attack, and trying to decide just how much more she could split into further parts without hurting herself. And with his special request.

A minute later, Bunnymund tiredly popped out of a hole, one ear still covered in frost. Jack strolled out right after him, smirking. "What do ya want North? I'm busy. And you should be too."

Ahh, good old Bunnymund, always so direct and to the point. North frowned, gesturing towards the kitchens. "I am worried about Sandy."

Jack instantly tensed up, his free-wheeling personality toning down at the mention of the Sandman. He had become fiercely protective of the guardian after seeing Sandy die right in front of him. Without waiting for an explanation, Jack rocketed in the direction where North had gestured, leaving behind Bunnymund and North. The warrior rabbit crossed his arms. "What's wrong?"

"He has not been himself tonight. He was supposed to be in Garfield, but came here only a few minutes before. He wasn't himself."

Bunnymund sighed, "You're going to have to give me more details than that. Besides, it might just be an off night for him. We don't really know how he operates."

North frowned as he stroked his beard thoughtfully, looking slightly pensive. It was hard to explain- he was good at big pictures, yes, but not so good with the smaller details. He just knew something was off with Sanderson. "I feel it in my belly!"

Bunnymund glowered, ears folding back impatiently. "Your belly may have been right about Pitch, but this is completely different! Can't you give me anything wrong with Sandy? Even one detail?"

North snorted, "I know that something is wrong, what more do you want!"

The Pooka rolled his eyes. "Look mate, I know you mean well, but if we try to repaint his mood without even knowing what color he is right now, we might just make it worse. Trust me, I know this from years of egg dying. We'll just muddy the waters and turn them brown."

North's frown grew a little sharper. "Then what do you suggest? That we leave him be?"

"No, that just lets the colors set." Bunnymund nodded in the direction that Jack had taken off in. "We wait until the little brat comes back and get some information from him."

North harumphed softly. They would have to wait indeed.


Sandy nibbled gently at a cookie, his back to the starry night sky. He didn't dare look. Not when he could feel the shooting star and its pilot still so close. He could hear the wishes of children rising up in a wreath of joy, millions of distant voices that were impossible to ignore. His sand itched to reach them, but it wasn't strong enough. Not powerful enough.

Sanderson hadn't dreamed a wish-dream in a long, long time. If he did, then he would be asleep for at least a week afterwards. That was too much time to leave the planet of Earth alone. Especially with Pitch's minions that waited for a single opening. There was also the matter of the wish. The wish, "I wish you would help."

Until the wish was fulfilled, then he was bound here.

"I wish I could fly!"

"I wish that mommy and daddy would get better!"

"I wish that the other girls would stop teasing me, and be my friend."

Sandy closed his eyes, trying to block out the wishes. So many wishes and dreams, so many young voices calling out to him! He could practically feel the dreams drifting down to the children wishing. Unfortunately, not every child would receive their wish-dream, but he would pick up after that, and fill the spot where the Star-pilot missed...

The elves looked to him curiously, and Sandy realized with a start that the sand, agitated by his emotions, had formed a miniature shooting star that spun in circles and orbited around his head. He then realized that most of the elves were unconscious, knocked out from his sleeping dust.

With a guilty look, he tried to recall the sand. The sand-formed shooting star wibbled and refused to leave, so he tried to will it into another shape- any other shape at all. His mind drew a blank. Sandy huffed softly in irritation, flicking his fingers towards the sand, and recalling Jack's favorite animal- a dolphin. The dolphin twisted, turned, and almost went back into a star shape, before Sandy hurriedly (and finally) stuffed it away. He let the elves with the dream sand already dancing above their heads keep their dreams. He turned his attention back to the cookie, and wondered if perhaps he shouldn't ask for some of Bunnymund's chocolate. If it was the Pooka's secret recipe from his home planet, then it would be delicious and quite soothing for the troubled Guardian.

But first, he should finish both cookie and eggnog.

He lifted the cup up to his lips- only to find it frozen solid. A dismayed look crossed his face, as he finally looked up.

Jack Frost, the guardian of fun, drifted above his head. An easy smile was on his face as he chuckled. "Took you long enough to realize I was here."

Sandy looked at him curiously, lifting his arm to tap at where a watch would rest. Jack looked slightly confused for a moment, before his eyes lit up in understanding. "Oooh, how long have I been watching?"

Sandy nodded, and the white-haired teen shrugged. "Just in time to see you putting away the dream sand. Did the elves annoy you or something to put them to sleep?"

He was drifting closer to the window, out of Sanderson's sight. Closer to where Sandy could probably see the shooting star if he cared to look. The pilot was making its laps now. Sandy could feel the dream sand, once his ship that he piloted through the many stars, straining to reach space and join with the ship. To see if perhaps it could piece itself together, even if it was impossible. An entire spaceship reduced to sand would not be able to be pieced back together- and he needed to concentrate.

Sandy heard Jack settle behind him on the window still, letting the cold breeze blow into the room. The small man shook his head in response to Jack's question. But he didn't turn to face the teen. He couldn't. The shooting star was just outside, and it clawed at him internally, just a little. Sandy couldn't even contact the pilot.

There was a rustle from behind, and Jack was suddenly floating upside down in front of him. There was concern in the new guardians face. "Are you okay Sandy?"

Sandman smiled gently as he nodded. He lifted his cup, remembered that the eggnog was frozen, and hopped down to fetch himself more. Jack floated alongside him, watching him with worried eyes. Sandy wished he knew how to placate his friend, but didn't really know how.

All he knew was that he didn't want to go back to his island. Not tonight. He would go later, when the ship had passed. He would ask North if he could borrow a room- the man had plenty to go around. In fact, Sandy technically had his own room (as did the other Guardians), but it was always polite to ask first. But first, warm eggnog to put him into a sleepy mood.

Jack touched down to the ground as Sandy stood on tiptoes to reach the eggnog. Sandy, out of the corner of his eyes, could see the frown on the teens face. "Sandy..." He paused, and then abruptly changed tack, "Where do you live? I mean, I've seen everyone's place but yours-"

Sandy shook his head immediately. A tiny tendril of hurt lept into Jack's eyes, before quickly being squashed. The Sandman sighed, letting his dreamsand do his talking. He made a calendar with a date, and made an "X". Then he made the next day's calendar, and a check mark.

"Wait, so you mean... not tonight?" There was hope in the boy's voice at that, and Sandy nodded. A truly curious look crossed Jack's face. "Why not tonight? Does it have anything to do with why you're here tonight?"

Sandy winced- Jack was a smart boy. And Sandy didn't really want to burden the other Guardians with tales of his past. It was a silly little longing anyways, hardly anything worth talking about. He didn't look Jack in the eyes as he nodded, not willing to lie.

Jack lowered a cup full of hot eggnog down to the dream guardian. Sandy took it with a grateful smile, and sipped at the warm liquid. The teen smiled back. "So are you headed back to your island tonight?"

Sandy shook his head, making a golden figure of North, a bed, and zzz's arising above a figure in a bed. "You're sleeping in one of North's beds? Cool, I do so as well at times." The spirit grinned, "Not that often though. I like the wind."

Sand smirked himself as he set off in the direction of where North would be. The eggnog wasn't exactly working its magic on him: he wasn't feeling so much sleepy as he was feeling simply and utterly exhausted. Exhaustion wasn't a common feeling, not for the giver of dreams. Even then, the exhaustion wasn't so much physical as it was... emotional.

The entire island, surrounded by sea, quivered softly in response to the Shooting Star. Sandy shoved the thoughts away, and concentrated on the hustle and bustle, finally allowing his sand to buoy himself up over the yetis' heads straight to North.


Bunnymund watched with a sharp eye as the kid and Sandy arrived in the main control room. Sandy drifted close to the ground, and Jack hovered right at Sandy's side. There was a spark of worry in the child's eyes, and the Pooka bit back a groan.

If Jack was worried, then something really had to be wrong. The flighty little guy didn't worry about much. Then again, he had gotten to be pretty protective over Sandy-

A fuzzy eyebrow rose as Sandy landed and made motions with his hands instead of his dream sand. Just what was- Yeah, something was wrong with Sandy alright. The six-foot rabbit straightened from where he had been casually leaning against the wall as North smiled, slapped the smaller man on the back, and shooed him off. Sandy smiled, a smaller smile then he normally had as he drifted off in the direction.

Jack waited until Sandy was out of ear and eye shot, before looking at North and Bunnymund with huge eyes. "He really is out of it! I mean, I drifted right up to him, but Sandy didn't look up until I said something, even when I froze his eggnog! And he knocked out most of the elves with dreamsand. But when I got there, he didn't have any of it out and-"

Where North didn't have any details, Jack had too many. Bunnymund's ears wilted backwards as he held up a paw. "Slow down a few miles there would ya mate? Just because he's not using as much dreamsand doesn't mean-"

"He told me he wouldn't take me to his home until tomorrow night!" Jack looked at North like he could solve all of their problems. "That's not normal, is it?"

North stroked his beard, before pointing at the globe, to the middle of the ocean where nobody would willingly wander. "His island is far, far out. It is not too surprising. It is a problem for many to reach." He looked thoughtful. "But perhaps his wish not to return home has something to do with this... I must ask Toothania if anything happened in that town... well, I guess it is still tonight. Still, they probably crossed paths, or at least, one of her little ones crossed paths with him."

North quickly pointed at Jack and Bunnymund. The Pooka's ears went back in alarm as the large man proclaimed, "You two will go to his island. Be careful though- don't let any of the sand get into your eyes."

"Where exactly is his island anyways?" Jack asked curiously.

Bunnymund sighed as he turned away. "C'mon kid- it's time to introduce you to the mermaids."


I would like to credit Luseymoth of Tumblr with both beta'ing and writing this fanfiction. Please R&R!