Aisling, the Dreamer

by tsalyah

The guardians each had a favorite, though they were supposed to be impartial. For Jack had Jamie, and Bunny had Sophie, Tooth had Baby Tooth, North had Phil, and Sandy had a girl from America, though the others knew nothing of her. The prologue isn't great, so try to read at least the first chapter. This is my first fanfic, so i'd appreciate if all flames were kept to a minimum.

8. Chapter 7: The Battle

Chapter 7 the battle

The preparations for the battle were taking place in various places around the world. In the amazon, Mother Nature trained her spirits in battle formations. At the Tooth Palace, Tooth had her fairies looking for a particular set of teeth. The rest of the guardians were in Bunny's Warren, making sure the eggs were ready for Easter. Other spirits around the world were gathering in force.

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The day before Easter arrived and Aisling stood with her father in front of an army of nightmare creatures. She could see all manner of beings, ones that flew, that walked on two legs, that walked on four. She was impressed with her father's army, though she knew they were mostly extensions of himself.

"We are ready!" her father declared.

"I thought the battle was tomorrow," Aisling said.

"It will be more of a surprise then," he said, "To Burgess!"

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A tooth fairy flew into the Warren, chirping loudly.

"What?" their mother asked.

"What is it Sheila?" Bunny asked Tooth.

"Nightmares are all over Burgess!" she said.

"It has begun," North said gravely.

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The spirits gathered outside of Burgess for the final battle while Jack went to scout. He returned shortly.

"The nightmares spotted us and the army is coming this way," he said.

"How are the people?" Tooth asked.

"Asleep," he answered easily.

"Nightmare-induced sleep? That can't be good," Bunny said.

Jack shook his head. "They aren't dreaming and the nightmares are ignoring them," he said.

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The nightmares took over Burgess with surprising speed. Aisling had put every human to sleep as they had entered. Now, they were just waiting for word of the opposing army. It came soon enough and the nightmare battalions formed and marched towards the edge of town.

Aisling was confused as to her feelings about war. She had trained hard and wanted to protect her father, but wasn't sure she could hurt anyone. Her silver sand bow in hand, she stood next to her father in the middle of the field.

The first spirits came from the sky, diving at the army. The nightmare creatures rose to meet them. An angry summer spirit dove towards their position with a sharpened saber and she instinctively shot it. The spirit collapsed to the ground at their feet, snoring. All Aisling's fears were relieved, as long as she shot her arrows, she would only put them to sleep.

While the air assault was ongoing, the ground assault started. Aisling saw many spirits of all shapes and sizes. The battle cries were fierce, but she just kept shooting her arrows. It wasn't long before the fiercest fighters reached their position and she faltered in her constant rhythm. Standing before them were the spirits she had returned the brother and sister to along with the brother.

"These are your enemies, father?" she asked.

He nodded, an angry expression on his face.

"Why?" she asked.

"This is not the time," he hissed.

She nodded in agreement as a boomerang flew by.

"Bunny!" Tooth scolded, "You agreed to stick to the plan."

"Aisling, come here, child. Your memories are waiting for you," Tooth called, holding out a golden box.

Aisling's gaze was transfixed on the box. It seemed as if it was calling her to it. She hesitated when she was coming into weapons' range, but Tooth spoke up again.

"We won't hurt you, we promise," she said.

Pitch was frozen in place, literally, and could do nothing to hinder her. A pleading tone came from his mouth, "Aisling, I can't lose you."

Aisling turned back towards her father. "You won't," she said, "I promise." She took the golden box from the Tooth Fairy, running her hand over the cover and was submersed in her memories.

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A giggling girl with brown hair and blue eyes sat on top of a spotted horse, riding with two other friends in circles around an arena.

The same girl, perhaps at age 7, making bracelets with her mother.

A vision of her at age 10 surrounded by books in a library.

Dream sand swirling around the girl at age 12 clearly not paying attention in class.

A family trip for her birthday to Disney World, age 14.

A high school graduation, Pomp and Circumstance loudly playing.

Being kidnapped along with two others.

And Finally, a nightmare was put inside her and she died under the moon. Then being revived by Pitch, who looked far less evil.

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Aisling sighed as she came out of her memories. "My family will be so upset," she said, "I'm glad I remember them now, though."

"So," North said, "will you join us?"

Aisling thought about it, glancing at Pitch's downcast face. "No," she said, "this whole battle is pointless anyway. It isn't you that he really wants to fight."

A question mark appeared over Sandy's head.

"I am a spirit that is in tune with people's hearts. To put it in terms of the movie, my center is probably a cross between imagination and ideals," she said, "I was always aware that he never lied to me and was always trying to contradict himself. The monsters in his heart make him do things he doesn't want to. Now that I remember battling my own, I think I can probably force them out if you all are ready for a real battle."

"You can free him?" Mother Nature asked.

"I think so," she said, nodding, "but I can't purify them all at once, so you will need to fight, defeat, or capture them while I try dealing with them one at a time."

"We can handle that, da?" North said.

The others agreed, nodding.

The moon had appeared in the sky while they were discussing, and a beam of light interrupted them. A man in white with pale skin and white hair touched down from inside it. "This is the battle that has been long awaited," the Man in the Moon said.

The rest of the battle that had been going on ceased at the appearance of Tsar Lunar himself. "The real battle is starting now!" he called to the spirits, "Take care to avoid possession and fight bravely! I wish all of you luck." "If you would, my dear," he gestured to Aisling.

Aware of the pressure, she walked slowly towards Pitch. She placed her hands on his chest and all his nightmare creatures disappeared. Detaching her hands, she started glowing a brilliant silver. As it covered her body, Pitch tried to step out of the ice, to no avail. Aisling closed her eyes and hugged him. Her power led her to the core of his being where she felt the man's heart surrounded by Fearlings. She steadily passed them until she was at the man's heart. She then poured her power out until his whole being was drenched in her light. The Fearlings fled her purity and left his body.

Coming back to herself, there was chaos again on the battlefield. The man she was hugging was no longer the grey-skinned Pitch Black, but a tanned general, Kozmotis Pitchner.

"Welcome back," she greeted.

"It's good to be back," he returned, in a voice much warmer than Pitch's had been.

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Whew. General Kozmotis is back to normal. What will happen now that the fearlings are released?

Tsalyah