Chapter One - Once Upon A Dream

Crystallize - Lindsey Stirling

It all started once upon a dream. Like everything starts, as just a simple dream. Created by the man in the moon, and set forth a plan of hope and love. A dream, that was given with the greatest intent; for one full of happiness among the lonely. A gift, a treasure that would ensure his Guardian that not all spirits are to be forever without.

Just a small, simple dream.

With cataclysmic consequences.

The world was far smaller than one could imagine; and children held a large populous of it. Sanderson Mansnoozie knew that all too well.

After all, he was the one to gift them the sweetest of dreams. For a wish, always starts as a dream. And those wishes, those precious dreams, shaped the future of the human world. The Dream Weaver spent countless hours. Nights. Pouring over bed sides, peering into windows, and poking around huts to witness them.

Some dreamt of becoming princesses, and caped super hero's. Other's dreamed of warmed food, and shelter for their communities. It all differed so, and he was never left in doubt that those precious, tiny, beings would be just that. Be the change their world needed.

Why, a girl in Syria had just begun her first women's rights campaign! He remembered sending her dream, specifically. One of boys and girls playing together. Without fight, without argument. To play without regard.

And it all started with him.

Of course, there are dreams that wouldn't become reality. Like those of riding unicorns, or flying with faries. However, they gave those children a release from their harsh realities. And life could be torment at times for them.

Those... Those dreams were always his favorite. To know he was helping, in some small way, to shelter them from whatever real evil dwelled in their homes. And in many cases, that evil drifted from streets. Plucking their innocence, and twisting the children to its whim.

Tonight was no different. He was laying upon his back, staring aimlessly into the sky above him. Sanderson hadn't known he had fallen into a sort of lethargy, himself, until much later. With arms crooked behind his head of sparkling golden hair, his amber gaze slitted closed. A warm, and content smile upon his face as he retraced the days adventures.

Of the children who deeply believed. Of a game of hide and seek he had lost to a small girl in France. She was so proud to have spotted him, staying up late at night to catch the Sand Man, himself!

Oh, how she had beamed up at him from her window! Sandy couldn't say 'no' to her pleading eyes when she begged to play one game. Promising she would go straight to bed afterwards. Ha! Two card games, a short tea party, and a game of hide and seek, later... She finally wore down enough to be tucked away, into her quilts, and given a sprinkling of sparkling dreamsand.

Sanderson stretched his toes, giving a soft and silent yawn into the heavens as he nodded into his arms. Only expecting to rest his eyes, until a sprawling Slumber Land was laid before the Dreaming Golden Guardian.

That was when all changed for the short man...

And it was only the first of many, many dreams...

•°•°•°•°•°•

An expanse of water laid at his feet. Waves washing upon the glittering beaches of his home. It was breathtaking.. How the setting sun turned his golden island into an array of warmed rubys, and ambers. The sandstones reached high, sprayed with cool water of the sea.

He could hear the softened lull of singing, mesmerising as the merfolk's began their ancient songs. One, he had learned, to thank the moon for the rising and falling tides.

His feet carried him across the beach, and he felt the need to find something. Like, if he didn't soon, it could be carried away from him. Lost at sea, like many ships before.

Sandy felt a pull, like none other before. A sort of need, that centered upon his breast. Leaving him warmed like stones in the sun. Then.. A drumming, a light vibration that grew with every stride until he was standing just feet away from a form he did not recognize.

His heart rate sky rocketed, and like the strings of a guitar, the vibration swam over his entire being. A song unheard, but felt by the soul.

The brightest blue eyes stared back at him, and he was rooted to his spot. They swam with warm tears, drawing him into their beautiful oceanic pools. They held such love, adoring love, that his breath caught in his throat.

"Sandy..."

•°•°•°•°•°•

He rose with a jolt from the comforts of his cloud. Gasping, and eyes wide. Fingers clutched the front of his velveteen gold robes, as worried eyes glanced about him.

That feeling! That lulling, drumming was still there. Faint, as if it was far away. But still there, vibrating against his ribs. Wishing to run free and trace back steps to where it truly belonged. Sanderson, suddenly shocked and confused, stared down at his robes.

What was it? Why did it feel so faint? Who was that woman? And why did he wish to see her again? Why had the vision of her hauntingly lovely eyes sent the Golden man from the Heavens, plummeting into a deepening pit of longing.

Millions of thoughts all came at once. Drowning the man in his curiosity, and his confusion.

It was the first dream he had, that left a longing so strong he was unable to focus on little else.

This first dream, of many to come. Once Upon A Dream, is a wish. For, all wishes start with a dream.

It had been nearly nineteen years since the first. And I can't put my finger on its true nature. I certainly haven't gotten any closer an answer, either! MiM stayed, silent in the sky every time I tried.

It kept me up at night, that insistent vibration! Not at all unwelcoming, mind you. Just, a constant form of confusion that always left me breathless. It was warm, welcoming. Like the feeling of finally finding a lost object. Or coming home from a lengthy journey.

It left me lonely. So woefully forlorn in my existence.

I had grown accustomed to my solitude, over my many thousands of years. It wasn't until that dreamscape.. Did I finally see how tiring it was. To merely send out visions, speaking to none, with not a soul to pass the time with.

I sighed, deeply so. Allowing the exhale from my nose, just as a sudden figure creeped upon me. It was swift, the chill that ran down my spine, as a mischievous Jack Overland Frost whispered at my ear.

"Wanna have some fun?"

My amber gaze turned to each of the figures speaking in front of me. None had noticed Jack's presence, or lack there of.

No, Toothiana was too busy chattering quickly with her tooth fairy's. Nickolas St. North was glaring at E. Aster Bunnymund as the rabbit began pointing a paintbrush at his nose in playful jest.

This meeting was a disaster, not one person could stay on topic. And without much contemplation, I nodded. Jack quickly jolted backwards, heading towards the doors on silent toes. I glanced once, as I followed, inching back from the three with a grin. They, so wrapped up in their own world, hadn't noticed until it was far too late.

I laughed, a softened tinkling of bells, as Jack dove onto his back. I peered over the edge of the band of dense Dream Sand, as clouds passed us swiftly by. The lad was lying upon his back, arms curled behind his staff, that rested at his skull. The wind riding male was grinning, speaking to me;

"I swear, five more minutes and I was gonna die of boredom!"

I waved a hand, rolling my eyes. Its never as bad as you make it. You just get used to it, I seemed to say through floating golden images above my head.

Jack was new to being a guardian, and also a new close friend. The young man had a way of making everyone remember to have fun, even if it wasn't the best of intentions with his many jokes and pranks. Aster seemed to find the male both endearing and infuriating. Which was always a joy to watch!

Jack Frost had been the one to save the day, and I was forever thankful to the male.

"Hey! I have an idea!" He grinned wider, before diving into the fluffy white expanse of cotton. Towards the earth they had jobs to protect. The wind picked up her gusts, sending Jack with whooping howls of glee.

With curiosity, and sudden eagerness, I followed. Where was this troublemaker taking me this time?