CHAPTER 3: THE GOLDEN ARMY
"a star's fear is stronger than any other, for stars are made of light and dreams, not able to counter nightmare's darkness at all…that's why Pitch keeps us alive"
2nd general Hyria
"how long does it take?"
Sandy asked at the general while looking around in awe…star-children, under the age of 200 (20), were not allowed to exit the city alone because of the fearlings…usually in Horizon city the age allowed was 150, because of the golden army's presence, along with the general's that kept the place safe. Also, nightmares would never get so near to the Lunanoff palace, so full of light and hope, or so they knew….until today..
"40 minutes to the palace" replied the general as Sandy focused his stare back to him
"why that Fearling was there? At the garden?" asked Sandy as Pitchiner sighed
"don't you know?" Pitchiner asked as Sandy assumed a questioning look
"that Fearling escaped from the prison a few days ago…he was one of the strongest ones in that place" Pitchiner said as Sandy had another question
"yes, I knew but why coming here? Didn't he know you were there as well?" Sandy asked as Pitchiner smiled
(this child is clever) he thought
"of course he knew, but you see…" he began as Sandy looked at him thoughtfully "stronger Fearlings need stronger fears" the general began and, seeing the confused expression of the sand-maker behind him, explained better "stars are made of pure light and have no idea what darkness is" Pitchiner said "and which ones are more easy to defeat, if not children?" asked Pitch as Sandy nodded in understanding.
For a few minutes they walked in silence.
Sandy noticed how, as time passed, the air kept growing thicker and the light seemed to dull someway…
The little star kept close to the general who noticed his discomfort
"is something wrong?" Pitchiner asked as Sandy blinked in surprise at the question, obviously interrupting his thoughts.
"not really..." Sandy lied as Pitchiner smiled, closing his eyes
"you are a terrible liar, Sanderson" said Pitchiner as the other pouted
"it's just-it seems like it's growing-" Sandy began as Pitchiner already knew the subject of his uneasiness "nothing" failed to lie again Sandy
"there's no need to tell…" said Pitchiner "it's normal you feel that way….we are close to the Fearling's prison" Pitchiner said watching Sandy's expression contort from one of shock to one of pure terror.
The little Sandy-child grasped the back of Pitchiner's clothing trying to ease the feeling growing up inside of him, succeeding a little…
"hey…don't worry…they can't hurt you" said Pitchiner stopping and patting Sandy on his head as the other smiled up at him
"I know but-" Sandy began but was stopped at mid-sentence by the general
"it's your first time here, it's normal…just stay close to me, okay?" said Pitchiner with a comforting smile as they resumed walking
Another 5 minutes and Sandy saw it…the prison that kept trapped all those evil creatures…he could hear their screaming and punching the wall with all their might, feeling the little star's presence, like they found their prey and were ready to jump on it…
Their screaming echoed through the air as the little dreamer clunched instinctively on the general, who spoke comforting words for the little star to hear, as they passed that damned prison…
Once passed, Sandy loosened his hold and resumed walking on his own
"how m-many are in there?" asked Sandy, still blinded by fear
"thousands…" Pitchiner answered, then chuckled to himself
"I didn't even ask you, how old are you?!" said Pitchiner, in an attempt to ease the pressure, succeding.
The sandman relaxed and his breath slowed down, directing his thoughts elsewhere, from that prison
"I'm 100 (10) years old" said Sandy full of pride as the general turned to him in an expression of mixed shock and awe
"really? This young…wait…how are you able to use dream-sand then? I thought that only children of 170 years could…" said Pitchiner, getting interested in the young dreamer.
"yes, that's true but I have a lot of imagination" said Sandy as Pitchiner laughed to himself
(I thought he was older) thought Pitch as the other spoke
"and you?" asked Sandy as Pitchiner snapped out of his thoughs
"I'm a little older…" began Pitchiner as Sandy listened "250 (25)" finished the general as the other gasped in silence
(i thought he was younger) Sandy thought, walking silently
_ 10 minutes later_
"here we are!" Pitchiner said, with an hint of relief in his voice as Sandy bolted in happiness.
The Lunanoff palace could be seen at the horizon while, in front of them, stood the golden army's door, full of light and brightness…
"who is it?" someone asked behind that door
"the 0 general, Kozmotis Pitchiner, open up…" he commanded as Sandy watched in awe the doors open to display the large place, where the golden army, along with all his soldiers lived and trained.
Sandy was so excited, he didn't even see that the general had already reached the end of the street and was calling for him…
(ah crap) he thought and raced after the general to meet the golden army
"good day, general sir" said a random boy from a group of soldiers as Pitchiner stopped and smiled brightly at him
"oh, hello Kez, how is your leg doing lately?" asked Pitchiner, with a taunting-hint in his voice as the other smiled in defiance
"perfectly well sir.." the other said "next time we train, I'll be the last one stading" said Kez as Pitchiner smiled
"says you" Pitchiner said as the other looked at the little creature on his side, hiding behind him
"oh, and who is this little guy?" asked Koz as Pitchiner turned and smiled
"oh? Come out…I'm not gonna eat you" said Koz with a smile as Sandy came beside Pitchiner
"hi…" shyly said Sandy as Koz looked at the general
"he's Sanderson Mansnoozie and comes from the Horizon city…he defended a friend of his, from a fearling" finished Pitchiner as Koz smiled
"really?!" asked Kozm rather surprised as Sandy nodded "you're very brave then are you?!" asked Koz as Sandy shocked his head furiously in negation at the other's speeching…
"IF YOU DON'T COME HERE NOW I'M GOING TO MAKE YOU WISH YOU WERE A FEARLING!" said someone as Koz tensed up
"uh-oh.. gotta go…sorry but that hot-head of my master is going to kill me if I stay hear a second longer….later" said Koz as both, Pitchiner and Sandy waved him goodbye…
Entering in the general's room, Sandy was getting over-excited and kept looking everywhere in awe, asking the general everything he saw and touched…
Sandy stopped when they reached a door with "High-Light" written on top of it as Sandy nearly screamed from excitement.
"this is your training room right?" asked Sandy as Pitchiner was taken a-back
"you scare me…you know things about me that I don't know myself" said Pitchiner, laughing seeing the blush appear on Sandy's face
"that's not true…" said Sandy as Pitchiner smiled
"you even know that I spend exactly 146 minutes running in my gym…" said Pitchiner as Sandy shrugged in embarrassment
"you're a legend" said Sandy low, but enough to let the general hear and smile at his speech…
"ready to meet my comrades?" asked Pitchiner as Sandy nodded furiously and Pitchiner opened the door revealing two armies made of adult or teen stars, training in the room with two female figures watching from behind
"Hyria! Katrina!" said Pitchiner as the two mentioned turned to him in happiness
"hi Pitch!" said Katrina while Pitchiner crossed his arms
"you know I hate that nickname…" said the general while Katrina bowed her head apologizing…
Hyria, probably the youngest of the three, was the first one to spot Sandy in the background
"who is that little fellow?" asked Hyria as Katrina focused on him as well
"he's a young star, capable of using dream-sand already..." said Pitchiner as the other two generals along with the armies stopped in shock at the speech
"that's impossible…" Katrina said "he's too young" she added as Sandy fumed inside
"show them" Pitchiner said as Sandy nodded, jumping in happiness, getting at the centre of the room
He moved his hands in mid-air while everybody watched in awe as the room became filled with dream-sand everywhere….leaving everybody speechless….even Pitchiner…of course he saw Sandy use his sand but now he was…..creating dreams and granting wishes at the same time….
As the light of the dreamsand faded and Sandy looked to Pitchiner shyly, the other smiled back at him giving him a thumb-up in response as Hyria and Katrina clapped their hands…
The soldiers resumed their training, while Hyria and Katrina were talking with the duo in the background
"hi, my name is Hyria and I'm the 2nd grade general here after Kozmotis and Katrina, nice to meet you" she said while giving Sandy one of her best smiles
"my name's Katrina and I'm the 1st grade general of this army, pleased to meet you" she said as Sandy gave 'em both a big smile and, after a few moments, left the room along with Pitchiner…
"you think they like me?" asked Sandy as the general approached him
"I say so…" he said "your display was very…wonderful" said Pitchiner with a hint of shyness in his voice as Sandy smiled and hugged him
"now I have to go…" said Pitchiner as Sandy watched his hero go to work in that prison..
"Hyria will take you back to your house…" said Pitchiner as Sandy nodded
"will I see you again?" asked Sandy as Pitchiner stopped at the entrance, smiling again
"of course…I'll come to you once you graduate, ok?" Pitchiner said as Sandy nodded and his hero left the room…
He was full of joy…he had a lot to say when he got back…especially to Sunny
Hyria, as the general said, was bringing Sandy back to his house and, as before, he clunched at her side when approaching the scary prison and then let her go only when that building was out of sight...
"were you scared too?" Sandy asked as Hyria stopped and lowered herself to the trembling star..
"No..." she replied, patting Sandy's head in a comforting way
"how can the general stay so close to THEM?" asked Sandy trembling while Hyria smiled
"he's used to it...we all are...maybe someday you'll learn to as well" Hyria said while walking again.
"how old are you? I think you're the youngest of them" Sandy asked as Hyria blinked at him
"them?" Hyria asked as Sandy nodded
"among the generals.." he finished as she nodded and smiled at him
"yes well i'm 210 (21) while Katrina is 240 (24)" finished as Sandy nodded
"here we are" Hyria said leaving Sandy in his city...
"thanks general" said Sandy as the older star smiled warmly at him
"just call me Hyria ok?" she said as he nodded
from the corner, Sunny was mouth-open seeing the general with Sandy and literally crushed Sandy in an happy hug
"you got to tell me everything!" said Sunny as both, Sandy and Hyria smiled
"well then...see ya little Sandman" said Hyria as Sandy turned to her
"Sandman?" Sandy asked
"the first child to use dream sand in this world" said Hyria as Sandy smiled and waved her goodbye...
he couldn't tell her nothing else because he was literally dragged away by Sunny who was asking him every second of his past few days with the general.
(i promise you that i'll become a star pilot) said Sandy leaving, happy and safe in his city...or so he thought
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(woah...this memories seems so real...)
(and Pitch was such a hero in this time...)
(i'm curious to know how he became the boogeyman)