Ta-da!
This is the last chapter for Lingering Nights, my good readers, but before the chapter starts I have a few things to say to all of you out there.
First off: Thank each and every one of you that reviewed my story and shared your thoughts and feelings about each chapter and my own character as your thoughts helped sculpt this fanfic into what is it from the start to the finish.
The second thing: If you are asking the question, "Is this writer going to write a sequel to this fanfic"? The answer you are looking for would be most likely, however, I will not be making a sequel right after Lingering Nights is finished.
Yeah, you will have to wait a little while but not too long of a while if you are one of the readers asking about a continuation.
The third thing that is being said: The Man in the Moon (aka Manny) will be somewhat talkative this chapter instead of his usually silent self. Just saying this now due to the fact I'd thought I put it out there.
Fourth: It took a while for me to find all the information that I needed for this chapter so I hope you enjoy it. Hell, I even had to go to the Supernatural Wiki for some of the stuff that is going to be mentioned in this last chapter. Either way that is the reason why it kind of took a little bit to type up.
Fifth thingy on my list of stuff that is to be said: Nuff said!
So with all of that said and done, let's start the story already!
Starting Off With Soul's Point Of View:
"I'm ready,"
"Then what is your choice"?
That was the last sentence he said to me before a long silence consumed the conversation. Thankfully, the man in the moon had plenty of time to spare for me since this really was the biggest decision of my life. Then that got me thinking, thinking about who I was and who I still am.
"Man in Moon," I pleaded to him. "Please… who am I"?
"Who is Soul Black…"? He questioned before I could actually feel him smiling down upon me and kindly saying, "You are small and some may even call you adorable, but when people actually get to know you… well, they get to know the real you. You are creative with what you do, mysterious in multiple ways, and your ability to be fearless combined with your loving instincts allow you to be cautious but at the same time it makes you a great adventurer unlike any other throughout all of history. And at your center…"
"At my center…"? I asked him as he trailed off.
The gleaming moonbeam surrounding me then instantly illuminated the dark void and showed me the vision of the earth, or how the earth used to look at least.
"What does my center have to do with the molten ball of lava the planet used to be"? I questioned the man in the moon.
"Look closer," He told me. "What do you see"?
I then turned my gaze back to the planet and watched as it unfolded into a burst of light. My jaw dropped as lushes plants burst into full bloom as entire oceans began to form the continents and islands with each curve of its powerful waves. Animals of every size, species and intelligence come out from the shadows of their caves, trees, grasslands, or even the very depths of the ocean itself.
"It's beautiful," I smiled.
"Yes, but there is something you must know, Soul". He stated clearly and firmly. "Unforgettable memories are being made with each passing second of the clock. Each youngling that has been lulled to sleep receives a sweet dream. Wonder graces everything that has been created and leads everyone to explore new possibilities and adventures. Helpful hope fills each and every heart as the sun sets and rises on the horizon of their land or sea and eases creatures minds as they know everything will be alright. Mischievous fun roams free throughout the earth and allows any beast of any age to enjoy the planet that has been put before them".
"What about fear"? I asked him as my smile slowly faded into a serious scowl. "People need fear in order to live, man in moon, even you know that".
"Of course and there is the truthful fear that lies within each and every one of us". He reassured me even though it sounded like he was slightly unhappy when he said it to me. "There is fear in every living being that has ever taken a breath and even within a beast that has only ever graced its surroundings. It protects people and teaches them life skills, of course, but being a Guardian requires that you do only one thing. Protect the innocence of children with all of your power and possibly your very life. Pitch Black knows this but has a difficult time coping with the fact that if he crosses any lines that we might set up, we will have to put an end to any plan he might have come up with. Still, in spite of everything that has been said about the Nightmare King, Soul, do you see your center"?
"Not really…" I muttered and then told him, "I just need a straight answer for once. I mean come on, man in moon, and grant a dead person's one last wish".
Another moment of silenced was shared between the two of us once again before my answer was given to me.
"The protection of life," He simply told me the answer right then and there.
"The protection of life"? I quietly questioned him as he finished his sentence.
"Yes," He replied. "You hold within your heart a desire to protect those who are close to you from death, and you would do anything to make sure that those people would never die. That includes putting your own life at risk for the sake of those said people. It was what you were born with, a heart that would forever beat death and see to it that everyone remained alive. A heart that will never give out just because you are under pressure or dying. No, not even after you perish in battle would you give up trying to save them from beyond the grave. This desire is what you put into this wondrous world and what you must protect in children. You must protect life itself from any person that would dare try to drag a being of life into the darkness of death. This is what makes you a Guardian and it is your center, Soul. So believe me when I tell you that you are the Guardian of Life".
I smiled at his words and felt a new wave of joy with each time I thought over what he told me, but even then I still felt the need to ask him one last question. "Mr. Moon… this is my destiny isn't it"?
"It is only what you make of it, child". The man in the moon said. "However, that all depends on what your choice is. Soul, what is your decision"?
I thought about everything he told me and felt my spiritual heart beat at the thought of being able to protect Pitch once again, and this time I would not fail him in the least bit. In which, I nodded my head in agreement with my train of thought before I told the moon, "I am Soul Black," I smirked while I allowed my next words to sink into my mind right prior to saying them. "And I will be the Guardian of Life".
A luminous moonbeam then engulfed my entire spirit and waves of light wrapped around me as I was overwhelmed by its unbelievable, mystical power.
In a split second, I was out like a light.
The silvery light vanished…
It became black as night…
No…
It became nothing but pitch black…
That was all I needed to see. Once I saw that I knew that these shadows clouding my vision wouldn't harm me, and realizing that I was safe at last, I allowed my lips to form into a soft smile.
"Thanks…" I thought as I knew that I was brought back to the land of the living. "Thank you, Man in Moon". I didn't even know if he could hear my thanks or if he even knew how grateful I was, but I hope he could just see the smile on my face and realize just how happy he's made me.
After my train of thought ran its course, my other sense started to work once more and I felt a sharp pain enter my chest as my heart began to beat for my second lifetime.
It took a few minutes for the pain to fade away and double that time for my heart rate to ease itself back to normal. All of my reactions to my death, my past life and the void that most likely led to hell all had to be processed, and I'm just lucky that the beating within my chest alone didn't cause me to die for a second time.
Before long, I carefully pulled my arms to my sides as I lifted my head off of the floor it was currently on. Breathing in the oxygen around me, I found that the air surrounding me was calming and warm while its scent was that of ginger and eggnog.
However, as I took in the mouth watering smells, I instantly tasted a thick, sticky substance that was all throughout my mouth. Hell, the stuff was even stuck to my sharp teeth- Wait what?!
"No this couldn't be right"! I thought to myself as I tried to convince myself that I probably just imagining things. Though I was proved wrong when I ran my tongue along the sides of the teeth. As I did that I realized that each and every one of them were triangular!
My teeth were now like a pair of shark's teeth aside from the animal's layers of choppers! At that same moment, I came to recognize the substance as blood, but the worst part about it was that I didn't know if this was my blood or someone else's!
The next second I forced my eyes to snap open and attempted to move my aching body and find out what else had been change while I was out.
Yeah… that was a slight mistake on my part…
Instantaneously, my spine popped out and back in place as I tried to sit up while every joint in my body snapped back into their rightful positions. Hell, even the veins cried out in pain as blood began to travel back and forth from the heart to every part of my body once again.
In spite of that, nothing hurt me more than the constant throbbing within my stomach. I simply gazed down upon my gut and saw the monstrous scar that was left over from the stab wound through the hole it made in my shirt.
"Oww…" I whined softly as I gently placed my hand over the scar.
Then I recalled the incident in a sudden second; Jack Frost had the chance to murder me and he took it the very last second it was available to him. At least he didn't try to kill me beforehand which that at least told me that slaughtering was the very last thing he would do to anyone. I mean I tortured the teenage immortal and carved into his stomach without any hesitation whatsoever, and if the Nightmare King told me that he wanted the boy dead then I would've slit his neck right then and there.
Of course, in the end it was Frost who had conquered his reluctant will not to commit murder and not I, the one who would end his life in a heartbeat if the situation called for it.
However, speaking of Pitch Black and Jack Frost...
My ears instantly perked upward as I heard footsteps coming closer and closer to where I was. I carefully turned around so that I wouldn't make my body ache anymore than it already did and never before had a smile ever been so welcome to appear on my face than that moment of my life.
"Soul… please tell me… is that you"? Pitch asked me in tone that was barely above that of a soft whisper.
No words were needed for my reply.
It Is No Longer Soul's Point Of View:
The spirit of life quickly and carefully got to her feet before dashing to the Nightmare King. He dropped down to his knee and then they both instantaneously embraced.
"I… I thought you… you were dead". Pitch told her as he picked her up to hold in his arms.
"The man in the moon brought me back," Soul reassured him as she wrapped her arms around his grey neck. "He also made me an immortal, but I seriously bet you'll never guess what I'm about to say next".
It was that moment that Soul took notice of the three Guardians as they approached both her and the dark king.
"Man in moon has made you Guardian," North stated right then and there. "Vith that in mind, I only have one question. Vhat has he made you Guardian of exactly"?
"Yes, North," Pitch flat-out snapped at him before Soul had a chance to answer him. "I was just about to take Soul away from here to explain to her what that moonbeam of a fool changed her into". He stood back up as he slowly started to walk away with the immortal child still in his arms.
"Ya ain't taking her anywhere anytime soon, ya miserable excuse for a shadow" Bunnymund strongly declared. "The little ankle bitter is staying right here! Or at least staying where the Guardians can train her to use whatever power she has for good and not your bloody evil"!
"She will not be used as some sort of weapon for you people"! The dark king's eyes flared up in rage at the very mention of such an impossible idea. "Not while I am still very much alive and well"!
"Yeah," Soul added in. "I am definitely not going anywhere where Pitch isn't! You people can't make me do anything"!
Bunny just shrugged before cracking his knuckles in threatening fashion. "Well then, I guess we just have to make sure that the said Nightmare King ain't alive and kicking"! He went to grab one of his boomerangs only to find that a golden whip wrapped around his wrist as he attempted to do so. "Oi, Sandy, let me go"! The Pooka shouted as he tried to free his wrist from the sand.
Golden symbols went flying up into the air as the Sandman shook his head at the Pooka. "Bunnymund, it is not our place to say where fellow Guardians go and with who and what they do with whoever they are with. It only becomes our business when they endanger a child's life or they go against what the man in the moon has instructed them to do. None of us should forget that". Sandy then turned his gaze over to the tiny immortal within Pitch Black's arms. "Soul, can you please tell us what the man in the moon told you about your new powers"?
"How come the rest of you aren't as nice and polite as the Sandman"?! Soul questioned Jack Frost, North and Bunny. She didn't wait a split second for any of them to answer her before she responded to Sanderson's question. "And yes Sandy, I can tell you what you want to know". She placed a hand on her chest as she smirked with slight pride as she said, "The man on the moon has made me the Guardian of Life".
There was never a silence as long as that of the silence that came after she said those words. The Guardians were not blinking (and not even breathing for a few seconds) while each and every one of their jaws slowly lowered down.
On the other hand, the Nightmare King simply and gently set the immortal child down of the floor and then simply and easily raised his right hand to his head as he instantly received a raging migraine the very second after Soul had told them what she now was.
"Um, guys"? She piped up after a handful of minutes passed by.
None of them replied to her.
"Uh… Yoo hoo! Guys"?
Yep, still nothing.
She then waved a hand up in the air to try and grab their attention (or see if they were still alive). After that she simply gave up and plopped down on the floor as she waited
Thankfully and finally, North managed to get back to his senses and was the first one of them to say anything on this new information.
"Guardian… of Life…" He questioned her slowly and carefully. "He said that… man in moon said that to you? Exactly like that, yes"?
"Ah, I guess so," She shrugged her shoulders as she explained this to the lot of them. "I mean he had a conversation about my center with me and told me what I was to protect in children all around the world. The next thing I know, POOF, I'm a Guardian. The only thing I don't understand are you guys. I mean yeah I'm a protector of children everywhere, big deal. It's a normal day for you guys".
"You don't understand, Soul," Pitch muttered as he continued to hold his hand over his face. "You… You aren't on the same level as these buffoons".
"Hey," Jack Frost snapped back at him.
Naturally he was ignored by the dark king and Pitch continued to talk. "There are others that the man in the moon has resurrected that… that are as powerful as you now are".
Soul tilted her head a bit to the side as she didn't see where their conversation was going. "What? Am I different now? How the hell can you people consider me different compared to the whole lot of you? We're all different here".
"Listen," Bunnymund said as he jumped right into their little talk. "He's trying to tell ya that ya have been given a role in life that is greater than being the Easter Bunny, being Santa, playing the Tooth Fairy, acting like the Boogeyman, portraying yourself as the Sandman and greater than screwing around like Jack Frost".
"Well who's bigger than five Guardians and the Nightmare King"? She asked right after he finished his sentence.
"Have you ever heard of Father Time"? Pitch Black questioned the tiny child as he lowered his hand from his head and folded both of his hands behind his back. "The Grim Reaper perhaps, or maybe even Mother Nature"?
"Of course," Soul nodded her head in agreement. "What the hell do they have to do with me"? She asked the dark king as she began to stand up once again.
"Soul, you might want to sit down for this". Sandy told her through his symbols.
"No thanks, Sandy, whatever it is I'm certain I can handle it. I mean I did somewhat handle the fact that I was turning into a homicidal Fearling didn't I? What the hell could be worse news than that"?
Shrugging, the little, golden man came over and stood to the child's side as she stood up. "Just thought I'd tell you in case you couldn't take in every bit of this at once".
"Soul," North tried to put this as carefully as he could. "You… um… er, vell you… no… Vell, they are far more powerful than us… and Pitch can be as powerful as them… and even more powerful than… man in moon. He is not that powerful right now as you can see. Either vay, you are the… long-awaited Guardian that man in moon hoped vould be born into this vorld".
"Ok," Soul said uneasily as she was just hoping that they just tell her what she exactly was.
"You are one of the Vigilante Immortals," Bunnymund said. "Though you are just the Guardian of Life, you are in the same boat with Mother Nature, Father Time and the Grim Reaper. Each one of you rules your domains and uses your powers as you see fit, but in the end you answer to Manny".
Then the childlike immortal tilted her head a bit to the side. "Manny"?
"Man in moon," Jack told her. "Although, sometimes we just call him Manny".
"That's beside the point we're trying to make here, Frostbite". Bunny told the white haired teen before he turned his attention back to Soul. "It was said at one point that Grim was born at the beginning of time and he was born as an entity that had no need to be turned into an immortal by the man in the moon. Now that was definitely before this galaxy even existed and way before any of us were born. The man in the moon came into the picture not long after the Nightmare King was created and it was a little time after that that Manny knew he would need some allies on his side if Pitch ever got extremely powerful at some point".
"Alright I get all of that," Soul nodded. "But how the hell do you people know this information".
Sandy then raised his little golden hand up in the air and caught the girl's attention before he began to speak through symbols once again.
"Bunnymund, Pitch, Manny and I all came from somewhere out in the universe to this little planet. I don't exactly remember when each of us came here but I do know that the Guardians overthrew Pitch right at the end of the Dark Ages. Although, Grim Reaper, Father Time and Mother Nature didn't help us out with that".
The Nightmare King scoffed, "Thank you, Sanderson," He said sarcastically. "Still, I'm certain that we've all listened that story a thousand times by now. There is no damn need to bring it back up for the millionth time. Just finish up with information if you would".
Sandy stuck his golden tongue out at the dark king before proceeding to the info.
"Either way, Father Time is the only other Vigilante Immortal to be born on Earth other than you, Soul. Manny befriended Time a couple hundred years ago, and then North was one of the first Guardians to meet him in person".
"Aye," North proudly smiled. "Though, it has been quite some time since I've seen him. He tends to travel around a lot of the time".
Jack shook his head even though he had a slight grin on his face. "North… please no bad puns… not now".
Sandy ignored them and continued to talk through his symbols. "In spite of that, Time was not the first one that Manny met. Nope, he found Mother Nature out somewhere in the universe and managed to convince her to come to Earth to assist in his mission to keep the children safe from dark forces. I heard from Manny, himself, that the only reason she agreed to do so because she never wanted another child to feel the same pain as she did when she was little. He told me that her father was killed by Fearlings when she was but a youngling".
"Sounds like a reasonable reason why she came". Soul nodded her head and then turned to the Nightmare King. "Pitch, have you ever met her before"?
The dark king simply shook his head as he casted his gaze elsewhere. "No… I have never met her… not once in my entire life as Pitch Black".
"Oh…" The child muttered. "Just thought I'd ask. Ok Sandy, you can continue".
"Then there was Death, also known as the Grim Reaper". The golden immortal told her with not so happy symbols flying up into the air. "He has been around since the beginning of time and plans on making sure that everyone that has ever been born or will be born will die before he dies. He has been an immortal since the moment he was born, and has been said that nothing and no one can kill him no matter what they try. He can raise the dead of any race or species and resurrect anyone he wants whenever he wants. Death is omniscient and is omnipotent and enjoys using those two powers quite frequently from what Manny has told me. Actually, now that I think of it, I remember meeting him once and he looked completely different than you look now, Soul, but once again you guys are opposites. He rules over and protects anything having to do with death and you do the same but with life. Also-"
"Wait a second," Soul interjected. "What do you mean by he looks completed different than me? I look the same as I did… I mean I still look the same, right"? She glanced at the facial expression of the immortals before her and noticed right away when they turned their gaze elsewhere. "Pitch…"? The child called out to her father figure.
He let loose a sigh of regret and shook his head as he snap his fingers to summon one of his Hell Hounds. The hound appeared but instantly bolted right out of the room only to return a few seconds later with a mirror's handle clenched within its jaws. The beast walked up to the child and held the mirror part of the object in front of her.
"W- W- What the…"?! Soul gasped as she took in the sight of her new look. "I- I look… I- I mean I'm… t- this is…"!
The Nightmare King kneeled down next to the child and placed his hands on her shoulder in order to give her some sort of comfort or reassurance that he was here for her.
"Soul… now I know this is a shock to you…" Pitch said to her. "Though, no matter how long it will take, I will assist you in a way that you are comfortable with your new-" His sentence was stopped right then and there as the child let out something along the lines of a squeal of delight.
Soul smirked as she actually jumped up and down in joy. "I love it, I love it, I love it! I mean I have little devil horns and actual claw-like nails"! She ran a hand through her hair and giggled happily as she saw that it was the same color the whole way around. "Even my hair, which I have to say is the best shade of red I've ever seen in my whole life! I love it"!
"Wait," Pitch tried to calm her down. "You're completely ok with how the man in the moon has altered your appearance? I mean you just seemed scared to death for a second there".
The childlike immortal stopped bouncing up and down for a second to answer his question. "Pitch, I love my new look, but the only thing that bothers me is the fact I have sharp teeth now". She grinned to show off the razor sharp teeth and then said, "If I accidently bite my tongue, my tongue will be in two pieces, or if I bite the side of my mouth, I'd have taken a chunk out of my mouth".
Leaning back against the main controls of the globe, Jack Frost slung his staff over his right shoulder and eyed the Guardian of Life for a few seconds. "How come she looks like the Guardian of Death more than Life"? He questioned as he finished looking over her new appearance.
Golden symbols flew up in the air once again and translated out to say, "Jack, I did say that Death and Soul are total opposites and that they were dressed completely different as well".
The teenage immortal then slightly frowned, "Then what does Death look like? Strawberry Shortcake"?
Sandy silently snickered at Jack's last comment before sending up more symbols into the air. "No, no, the Grim Reaper looks like a tall, lithe man with dark hair, and I recall that he had a scythe slung over his shoulder like you slung your staff".
Frost turned his attention to the Nightmare King and dramatically gasped, "P- Pitch"!? He stammered even though it wasn't the dark king.
"Shut up and stop provoking me to kill you". Pitch muttered as he sent the boy a quick glare.
"Continuing with the topic of Death," Sandy's symbols translated out to say as he ignored the bickering of the two. "He doesn't look like a skeleton-"
"Oh well then that isn't Pitchy here". Jack nodded with a sheepish grin.
"Need I slit your neck, boy"!? The Nightmare King started to raise his voice in irritation. "And stop calling me 'Pitchy'"!
The Sandman glared at the two with the facial expression of are you serious and went back to the explanation. "The Grim Reaper looks like a normal man compared to Soul, who pretty much looks like a little female version of the devil".
"Yeah…" Soul raised an eyebrow as she attempted to take that as some sort of complement instead of an insult. "Thanks Sandy… I guess…"
"So with all of that said and done," Bunnymund stepped back into the picture as he stepped closer to the tiny child. "What are we going to do along the lines of a punishment for Pitch and Soul? I mean Manny wouldn't like it if we killed his newest Guardian, but we can kill Pitch, right"? The Pooka almost seemed excited as he said the last part of that sentence.
"Bunny"!? Soul whipped her head around to glare the giant rabbit.
"Seriously…"? Sandy's symbols translated out to say. "Why are you bringing this up now"?
"The explanation has been explained and now I want my revenge for getting slaughtered by a Fearling"! The Pooka burst out as he clenched his furry hands into furry fists. "Now I say we tie him to a cactus, slit open his stomach and stomp on his intestines like there's no tomorrow"!
"…" Soul's jaw dropped as she raised both eyebrows in shock. "Wow… you are… totally insane…"
"Nah," Jack Frost said. "He's just steaming mad. He threatened to do the same thing to me the winter of '68".
Bunny turned to North and more or less shouted out, "Come on! Ya with me, North"!?
The man didn't answer as his gaze was set on several trails of blood that were slowly making their way into the globe room. "No," North flat-out declared as he came to realize that he had held in rage and sadness for far too long.
"N- No"!? Bunny stammered out. "N- North are ya s- serious!? This bloke beheaded ya Yetis and ya elves without a second thought, but you're just going to let him waltz right out the door like none of this happened?! What about ya believers?! It's Christmas and there is not a single Christmas present being delivered right now and it's almost three am in the morning"!
"Bunny calm down and shut up"! He snapped in a harsh tone he wouldn't normally use. "I know vhat has happened but there is no vay to fix it and there is no going back! Even if ve all tried to go the South Pole, hitch up my team and deliver the presents it vould be too late! Just look"!
It was true. The ceiling above was crumpling into dust as multiple lights on the globe started to go out.
"Children are waking up all around the world and finding out that their precious Santa never came". Pitch stated for all of them to hear. "It's just a simple thing really…"
"But for a child… it's everything". Soul finished his sentence for him as her eyes widened at the sight of the lights going out. She knew she was supposed to be on Pitch Black's side but it was something within her that couldn't stand the idea. The idea of a lonely child waking up to expect a friendly toy awaiting them but finding out that there was nothing waiting.
North walked over to the fireplace behind the controls and stared into the dying flames. "Christmas is one time a year and if that time isn't met… then it's all over for me and everything that I protect… No more wonder…"
Pitch then picked Soul off of the ground and slowly started to make his way to the shadows of the room. "I trust it is alright that we both leave now, North"? He asked without even turning his head towards the man.
"Just leave…" He answered with a cold tone.
"North wait"! Jack Frost tried to help his friend. "Maybe we can-"
"I SAID GET OUT"! The Christmas figured roared at the teenage immortal and then at the rest of them. "LEAVE ME TO DIE AND GO PROTECT YOUR OWN HOPES AND DREAMS"! He turned back to face the ashes of the fire and said nothing else as the other began to do as he said.
The Easter Bunny tapped the floor and gave his friend and rival one last glance before jumping down the hole and traveling back to his Warren. Jack Frost hid his face as he threw his hood over his head and flew up into the air and to somewhere else.
It was only the Sandman who turned to the shadows and noticed a little head peering over the Nightmare King's shoulder.
"Please… Soul…" A golden tear was wiped away as very few symbols flew up into the air. "Please… Guardian of Life… help us this one time…"
The Sandman then started to float out of the room but stopped when he heard someone snap their fingers. He turned back around to see that nothing had changed and that Soul and Pitch had gone back to the shadows.
"I see…" Sandy sadly thought to himself before he caught sight of something in the corner of his eye.
A light.
No two lights.
No ten lights.
No a hundred lights came back on in an instant and many more were flicking back on after they had been turned off for quite some time.
"N- N- North"! Sandy gasped and tried to grab the man's attention. It was only the second after that that he realized once more that he was a mute and no one could hear him.
Quickly floating back down to the Christmas figure, Sanderson grabbed North by the sleeve and yanked him closer to the globe.
"NO"! He shouted. "SANDY, I VON'T LOOK AT THE LIGHTS-" He then noticed how bright the globe was becoming second after second. "… Coming back on…"?
It was true. Each and every light that had even threatened to flicker off was set straight and kept glowing to show that that child had complete belief and trust in the Guardians.
"But how"!? North questioned with a smile planted on his face. "How is happening"!?
Meanwhile…
All around the world Christmas presents were popping up in front of the Christmas tree. Children that were witnessing this were instantly jumping up and down in joy that their wondrous holiday had come at last.
Sure they didn't get to see their Santa but seeing presents magically popping underneath the tree was proof enough that he had been there.
Now Back To The North Pole:
"Vho did this, Sandy"!? North smiled with joy as he never felt this much belief before in his life.
"Let's just say you can thank our newest Guardian". The Sandman smiled warmly as he silently thank the said Guardian for her assistance. "She might be troublesome and somewhat of a greenhorn, but I have a feeling that she'll have a great future lying ahead of her. May the moon shine ever in her favor". One last golden symbol flew up into the air as the Sandman remained silent to watch the rest of the lights shimmer brightly and happily.
The Nightmare King's Realm Of Darkness:
Silence…
For the first time all day…
There was nothing but silence…
Hell Hounds retired to the depths of the realm to rest up as Night Mares continued their duty and were sent out to give children nightmares.
Everything was still…
No one dared to move…
The Nightmare King, himself, had just finished collapsing on top of his bed after he had set the child that was within his arms down on the other side of the bed. Truly, he felt the need to sleep for a few centuries or so due to the fact that that power surge and the drainage of that power really took a lot out of him. He didn't let it show in front of his enemies but nearly collapsed as he stepped into the shadows.
Sliding underneath his black covers, Pitch Black closed his eyes and had hoped sleep would come fast.
"Pitch"?
Well that plan went to hell.
Slightly opening one eye up, the dark king looked to the tiny child that was snuggled close to his shoulder. "What is it, darling"?
"Aren't you going to tell me what I did was bad or something"? Soul asked.
"No…" He yawned. "You are the Guardian of Life now… if you choose to help North out by making it so that the presents were delivered by the will of life then that was your choice. Now I wouldn't have done that but I am not you and you aren't me".
"Oh…" She nodded at his words. "I only did it because Sandy asked me to help".
"You did that for him"? Pitch said. "Well just make sure he doesn't grow used to such assistance, Soul. You are on the same level of Death, himself, now and you are capable of great and multiple things. Don't let the weak take control over you".
"Ok…" The child agreed. "One last thing… it is just that…" She trailed off with her words.
"Hm…"? He questioned. "What is it"?
Soul snuggled her way onto his grey, bare chest and leaned up to plant a tiny kiss on his cheek. "Goodnight father… and merry Christmas…"
Pitch Black smiled warmly and kissed the top of her head. "Goodnight… Soul Black".
Yes the ending is here at last… and yes you are allowed to cry now if you want to.
Now there WILL be a second story to this but not right away. With school starting back up and everything it is going to be hard to find time to type and write.
So this is the final time I say goodbye for this story then…
Well I hope you, my readers and reviewers, enjoyed this fanfic.
Till whenever the next time is! :J
