Sanderson mansnoozie was a clever star and, therefore, achieved graduation earlier than enyone else becoming a star pilot, as promised, 50 (5) years later at the age of 150 years old, with the capability of spreading dreams and grant wishes non-stop without getting tired, or almost...he was too young yet
And as promised, the general Pitchiner called, asking to have a meeting with the Sandman, or so they called him, and he accepted gratefully getting ready.
Sunny, in the meantime, decided to become a teacher in the same school he went, and was at his current 2nd year of teaching.
"hey Sandy..." came the low voice of Sunny
"i've known of your visitor this evening...is he coming here?" Sunny asked as Sandy nodded, titling his head in confusion...
Sunny's expression was too much neutral for him...
50 years ago he would have boilted up at the idea, but now...
Sunny noticed his stare and spoke
"what?!" Sunny asked
"why are you so serious? Like...disappointed?" Sandy asked as Sunny sighed
"i've heard the general has grown weak and tired lately..." Sunny explained as Sandy boiled up
"so what?! Just for that, you're disappointed?" he spat angrily at his friend who shrugged
"you're right!...Well then, i've gotta go to my class now...say hello to him by me ok?" said Sunny as Sandy nodded and headed to his meeting. He knew the general's situation and he let nobody talk like that about him...not even his best friend.
And there he was.
The general was in the conference hall waiting for Sandy
"always on time" said Pitchiner as Sandy approached smiling
"always!" said the other making the general smile
"how are you doing lately? I see you graduated earlier than expected.." Pitchiner said as Sandy stared...Sunny was right...
the strong man of a time was now a weak man, with large rings under his eyes and seemed dead-tired
"oh..." Pitchiner began "don't look at me like that!...i'm just tired" said the man as Sandy sighed sitting down as well as the general
"you sure you're fine?" asked Sandy, actually worried as the other smiled
"yeah..." said Pitchiner with absent eyes as Sandy stared again with worry
"the Lunanoff family is making you guard that prison alone again, is it?" Sandy said crossing his arms as the other smiled
"always a wise guy are you?!" said the general as the other got up
"IT'S NOT FAIR! You're not the only general on the planet are you?!" Sandy began as the general listened "and if-if you get too tired, the fearlings will try-will try to..." Sandy couldn't finish his sentence but the meaning was clear for both of them
his words brought the general to his feet, embracing instanctly, the other to ease his worry...not secceding...
"don't worry so much..." said Pitchiner as the other watched him with tears in his eyes
"I DO! You need to rest too..." said Sandy showing dream-sand in his hand to the other in a silent question
"okay...but after that, i have to go" said Pitchiner lying down as the other got to work, creating a dream for his idol.
2 minutes and the general was fast asleep, dreaming...of his family...of his daughter...
yes, his daughter...a wonderful girl with brown hair...
he had always that medallion with him to keep her close
(such rage...) Sandy thought
he began hating the Lunanoff family from a long time now...
he was angry with them...they didn't give the general the time to be with his family
(such jerks!) he thought looking at the sky in wonder at some falling-stars
(i could be one of them tomorrow) he thought smiling and lying down as well to rest.
The day after the general left to go guarding the prison.
Sandy would have wanted to go along with him
But he was afraid
And if you have fear, you can't go in that place
For Fear is your enemy when fighting fearlings
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Pitchiner entered the, seeming empty, prison where stood, an only cell, guarding the very creatures of darkness.
Even him, would not dare to step too close to it...
He sat down on his chair and looked at his medallion, wishing that his daughter would be there with him...he didn't see her for a long time now...and he was afraid he might lose her-
Afraid of losing...
The fearlings inside the cell kept laughing in silence while taking the form of Pitchiner's child, setting a trap for him.
Dad...
Pitchiner heard her voice from that cell and instantly got up in mild shockDad...help...i'm scaredThe girl said from behind that door...
He got closer until he could spot the very form of his daughter in the middle of that darkness...crying...alone...and scared
He couldn't lose her too...he had only his daughter...he could not let her die or worse
Fear of losing Fear of being alone Fear of fear itselfFear of disappointment
Blinded by fear and terror, he insincively opened that door to discover that her daughter was no where in sight.
Not a second to think, he was overwhelmed by the fearlings who engulfed him and consumed him until nothing of his older self remained.
A new fearling was born...No! more than a fearling...
It was born the nightmare king!
His laughter echoed through the prison as the fearlings broke free and destroyed the door of the entrance.
The dark being raised from the ground laughing evilly and coldly, following the nightmares in their freedom, disappearing in the shadows...
The golden army returned from their duties and, Katrina and Hyria were called from the Lunanoff king in order to go to the prison.
The sight that met them was terrible...not a fearling inside, nor outside the, now crashed, building.
"oh god!" Hyria said in shock
"oh no!" added Katrina as Hyria approached the prison
"the fearlings escaped!" she said as her foot stumbled over something metallic
"this is-" she began grabbing the jewel "Pitchiner's medallion" she finished turning to Katrina as the other stared in sadness.
"search for the general everywhere! Find him!" ordered Katrina as her army did so.
"we have to warn all the cities! And the Lunanoff palace!" said Hyria as Katrina nodded
"there's no sign of him anywhere!" said a soldier as Katrina looked to Hyria in worry
"what will i say for the general?" asked Hyria as Katrina put a hand on her shoulder in reassurance
"the solutions are two: they killed him or...worse" Katrina let the sentence end there as Hyria gasped
"i'll tell them, he's...lost" Hyria said as Katrina nodded
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"your highness!" Hyria said, entering the palace as the king turned
"the fearlings escaped from the prison" said Hyria as all the people in the room gasped
"and the 0 general is lost" finished Hyria as the king shrugged and got up
"advise every city!" said the king "Hyria, make sure to apply defences for their furure attack!" the king finished and dismissed Hyria
"oh, Hyria...i name Katrina the 0 general of the golden army, until we find the general" the king finished as Hyria nodded, running to follow her oders.
Hehe...we'll give 'em something to run for...
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"LISTEN EVERYBODY! THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM THE LUNANOOF PALACE. THE FEARLING'S PRISON HAS BEEN DESTROYED. EVERY STAR-CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 150 HAS TO STAY IN HIS HOME! IT'S FOR SAFETY!" the message repeated non stop in all cities near the prison as all the stars ran in attept to find their children and keep them safe.
In the Horizon city, Sandy had just finished building up his ship to travel skies when he heard the message.
"general..." he spoke to himself sadly "i knew it was going to happen" said Sandy falling to his knees, tears filling his eyes, dulling his vision
"promise me you'll become a star pilot"
(those words...) Sandy thought as Sunny arrived, quick breath
"Sandy! Have you heard?!" said Sunny as Sandy got up
"of course i heard!" began Sandy
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"it seems they have a leader sir!" said a soldier to the king
suddenly the air became thiker and the light faded along with all the candles leaving only the light of the stars in the room as a dark laughter could be heard in the hallway, right out of the royal door... it was menacing enough to scare the people inside the royal room.
Hahahahaha...
"who is it?" the king asked, alarmed as more giggles came from different directions...
oh? You don't know!?
I'll make sure every light dissipates until there's nothing left 'but darkness
"show yourself, creture of the darkness!" the king said as the shadow finally took form in the room
"if that's what you want" said the now, tall man all covered in black as the king gasped
"P-Pitc-" the king was cut off from the scythe, materialazing in Pitch's hands, cutting through his flesh as he fell to the ground
"that's right! I'm Pitch Black! The Nightmare king!" said Pitch as all the stars in the room ran towards the exit, but were stopped from the nightmares
"and where you think you're going?" Pitch ironically asked "1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13!" Pitch said in ecstasy "13 dream-makers all together! What a great hit!" he said jumping around, stopping suddenly "kill them!" he said dakly as the nightmares followed his orders killing every one of them...almost...the yougest of them was able to escape.
He ran with all his might as Pitch stopped the nightmare, who was about to chase him
"let him go...for now..." Pitch said as the nightmare roared to him in disappointment
"oh...don't worry. We're gonna haveso much fun..once he tells the golden army what happened...we're going to kill them as well but first" he began raising his stare to the sky "we have to get rid of those" said Pitch, pointing at the stars in the sky, grinning in widness
"ugh..."
"woah...you're still alive?" asked Pitch as the king looked up at him
"P-Pitchiner...w-what did they do to you!?" asked the king in sadness as Pitch smiled and lowered himself to his position
"that man...is dead..." Pitch said as the king froze
"finish him" Pitch said as a nightmare gave the final blow to the king who made his last breath under the laughing of the nightmare king.
The queen ran with her son through the hallways
"listen" she said "get this ship and fly away! Hide somewhere! Go to these coordinates and hide there!" she said while the MIM looked at her with tears
"and you?" asked Mim
"don't worry i'm-" she stopped hearing the nightmares coming their way...
"i'll come to you in time...just go" she said as the ship left.
He was blinded by tears but he could see the nightmares killing off his mother...he was alone now...but he never gave up...he reached the satellite called moon, close to planet earth and hid there as promised, swearing he would protect thse lost souls who were on that little, bright planet...
He was now the man in the moon