North, better known as Santa Claus, strode through his workshop, inspecting all of the toys that had been finished. He was the spirit of Christmas and Guardian of wonder. He chuckled as elves hurried around to give freshly baked cookies to overworked yetis, while trying to steal some for themselves as well. North snatched one off a plate and bit into it before continuing.
Christmas was months off (Easter was just last week) but the North Pole was in operation 24/7. You could never have enough toys. Satisfied that everything was going to plan, North turned to head towards the Globe Room to look at the Globe of Belief. He enjoyed sitting in his armchair, with a steaming cup of hot cocoa (with the little marshmellows, too) and watching the lights flicker for hours at a time.
There was one light in particular loved to watch. Jackson Overland was the boy's name, and he hardly a boy. At 16 years old, he kept his sister's belief alive and overall had the strongest belief in the world himself. His 17th birthday was this summer, and North doubted his belief would stop then. He lived in the English Colonies in the New Land with his younger sister, Pippa, and his mother, Mary. Their father had stayed in the England to earn good money to send to the family.
North smiled as a moonbeam shot through the open window in the roof of the Globe Room.
"Manny!" North said happily. "What is big news, old friend?"
The boombeam jumped to the Globe of Belief and jumped around until it landed on a specific light in the Colonies: Jackson's.
"What about Jackson?" North asked, confused. "He has been good boy, no?"
The light shook and turned black. North's eyes enlarged. He looked up to the Man in the Moon, only partly understanding.
"But Manny," he asked. "Who would want to hurt him?"
Another moonbeam hit the floor and took the shape of the all-too-familiar Boogeyman. North narrowed his eyes at the shape before turning to a control panel in front of the globe. He pushed down a lever, sending the Northern Lights into the sky, calling the other Guardians.
They now had a mission.
Jackson laughed as he held his little sister's hand as they ran throughout the sheep field behind their house. His little sister giggled as he picked her up and twirled her. He smiled. Everything was perfect.
He turned to hear someone calling their names, and saw his mother, Mary, and father, Chris. His eyes widened with joy - he hadn't seen his father since Pippa was born. Grabbing his sister's hand, they ran towards the parents. Pippa, seemingly even more excited than Jackson, pulled out of his grip and ran even faster.
Jackson stopped, gasping as darkness surrounded him. Black sand began to surround him and engulfed him.
Jackson's eyes shot open and he sighed, relieved it was just a nightmare. He then gasped seeing two yellow eyes looking at him from the darkness.
"Hello Jackson," a dark voice chuckled. "It's good to finally meet you."