Chapter XIX

And I never minded being on my own. Then something broke in me and I wanted to go home. To be where you are. But even closer to you, you seem so very far— Florence and The Machine, Wish That You Were Here

"Ah, finally!" Pitch cheered.

I inhaled a trembled breath and slowly made my way closer to everyone.

"Tsk, tsk." Pitch wagged his finger before putting the sword up to Jack's throat. "That's close enough."

I came to an abrupt halt, when I was only now a few feet away.

Tooth worriedly spoke. "What are you doing here?"

"Yes what are you doing here? I mean, it is nice you finally were able to join us." Pitch asked with a sadistic grin.

"Sorry, I guess you could say I was…snowed in?" I winked a Jack who at first down casted his icy eyes but looked up at me with a small smile.

"Well, since you're here now, I'll start with you." Pitch removed the sword way from Jack, shoving him to the ground, and pointed it towards me.

I didn't say a word as I prepared myself for Pitches attack, ignoring the Guardians cries for me to get out of here, to run away. I closed my eyes, again I took in a breath, gracefully lifted my hand, my palm faced towards Pitch as he charged at me. The second the tip of his sword touched the center of my palm, my hand glowed and released a radiant ball of light. In a quick flash, Pitch's weapon exploded, and ribbons of light swirled around, along with twinkling little jewels rained down around us.

"W-what?! No!" Pitch roared in frustration.

"Turns out I am a Guardian…" I looked over at the wide-eyed, flabbergasted five. "Who knew right?" I shrugged, turning my attention back to Pitch who took a few steps back.

I took a step forward, not before Pitch sent the Shadow Guardians after me. I slapped on a confident grin and with both my hands at my side, as if it was the most natural thing in the world to do, I slowly raised them, summoning balls of light that appeared before me, then thin streaks began to attach themselves to these balls of light, all coming together like a game of 'connect the dots', creating a symbol I knew all too well from my time in the planetarium.

A bright flashed blinded us.

Opening my eyes I saw that there were bright, twinkling transparent presence. One of them being of a lion and in my shock whispered. "Leo…"

"What is that?" Pitch growled.

I looked up wide-eyed and I couldn't help but smile. "Oh-ho, you in trouble now!" I excitedly said. "This is the star constellation, Leo." I gently pat the transparent mane of the Lion. "Now go get'em." I ordered and with a mighty roar the Lion charged.

The Shadow Guardians stopped in their tracks and hesitated as they stared at each other.

"What are you doing? Attack!" Pitched yelled, throwing his arms in a frantic gesture.

I remained where I was as I worked up the power I felt course through my veins, I created more constellations one after another as I called forth their names. "Hydra, the water Serpent,. Sagittarius, the archer. Lupus, the wolf…" As I continued to make constellations appear one more came to mind and calmly speaking its name, she appeared before me. "Andromeda, the chained lady…" In a bright light, a silhouette of a Goddess, wearing a long flowy dress, wrists tied in chains, hovered before me.

As we shared a nod, I pointed forward to Pitch, where she joined the rest of the star constellations in the fight. Seeing this opportunity I quickly dodged the attacks that ran over to the Guardians who had their hands bounded by Pitch's nightmare magic. However with a gentle touch of my fingertips it vanished.

"Ta-da!" I said, as I freed them one after another.

"That's incredible!" Tooth gasped happily, "All of it!" She spread her wings and hovered around me.

"How did you do this?" North calmly asked.

I shrugged. "It took a while…but—"

"You figured it out." Jack chimed in as if knowing what I was about to say.

Bunny cut in. "Uh, mates, it's not over yet."

Sandman then caught our attention and pointed over to the fight, where the Shadow Guardians were being destroyed, but there was still Pitch to worry about as he joined in, pushing back my constellations, having them burst into twinkling stardust.

"Well that's not good." I said.

Jack readied himself and looked over at me. "All right, what now?"

"Umm…" I scratch my cheek. "You know what? I actually thought everything would be resolved by now. Didn't plan for this."

The Guardians doubtfully looked at each other as I shrugged innocently.

"But that doesn't mean I have an idea on what to do next." I gloated.

Then a blast of dark magic shot our way. We all managed to dodge it just in time, but it separated me and Jack from the rest of the Guardians.

"Enough!" Pitch shouted. "This time I'll make sure you are destroyed!" He fired that last comment at me, followed by another attack, of which Jack tackled me out of the way.

"Thanks…" I said, catching my breath as I look up at Jack who helped me to my feet.

"Anytime." Jack's hand lingered on mine for a bit longer, before turning back towards Pitch. "Now to finish this…"

"Oh!" I gasped.

Jack looked at m wide-eyed. "What?"

I grabbed him by the arm and yelled over at the Guardians. "North, Tooth, Bunny, Sandy!" I caught their attention then continued. "Keep Pitch busy!"

"You got it!" Bunny yelled back as he fired his boomerangs.

The others pursued in attack, distracting Pitch.

Jack was about to follow but my hold on his arm kept him from going.

"What are you doing?"

"I need you!" I said.

He again looked shocked at my response.

I huffed and said. "I need you to say…" I then leaned in and whispered in his ear.

Jack raised an eyebrow.

"Just say it." I rolled my eyes.

Jack took a deep breath. "Star light….star bright…first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, wish the wish I tonight…" he paused, still looking at me with uncertainty. "I wish for Jaime and his friends to be here?"

I nodded in satisfaction.
Then slowly forming in front of Jack and I, bright glowing spheres gathered, there was a soft flash and next thing I see if the little boy Jaime, and all his friends, and his little sister Sophie.

"Jack?" Jaime is first to speak as he saw Jack, confused, and slowly turned to me. A warm smile spread across his face as if he knew.

Jack laughed in astonishment. "I-it worked…" He excitedly jumped around. "You brought them here? All because I wished, but how—"

"I know, I know…but why don't I explain when this is all over, okay?" I patted his shoulder and walked passed him, kneeling down to Jaime's level. "Hey, kid."

"Hi." He said.

"You think you could give us a hand?" I asked.

Him and his friends looked at one another, and as if agreeing in silence, nodded at me.

"Great, because I'm going to need you to wish as hard and as much as you can for the Guardians and I." I ruffled Jaime's hair before standing back up and walking passed them, headed for where the Guardians continued their fight with Pitch. "Come on, Jack." I shouted.

"North, Tooth, Bunny, Sandy! Draw back!" I yelled at them again.

They responded by doing as I said. They huffed and puffed as they were on the verge of collapsing from exhaustion.

"So, what's plan?" north asked, using his swords for support as he hunched over.

"They are." I said, pointing back at the group of kids.

"What? Them?" Tooth asked, surprised.

Bunny hopped over. "Um, mate, you might not have known this but they have helped us defeat Pitch before, but who is to say that it will work again?"

"But Bunny, aren't kids what make us Guardians?" I said calmly as placing a hand on his shoulder. "Everyone stay back. Do not interfere."

I move towards Pitch, who himself was exhausted, but it was his vengeance and anger that kept him standing.

"You…" He hissed.

"Pitch Black." I spoke confidently, stopping only a few feet away. "It is thanks to your fear, your darkness that showed me the light."

Pitch looked at me in shock, and I could only imagine the Guardians who stood behind me held the same expression.

I continued. "If you hadn't told me of my fear…my fear of what everyone said I am, what I was destined to be, what I was all this time…" It was then I felt that butterfly sensation in my stomach, my power coursing through my veins again.

"I will end you!" He spewed his hatred at me.

"It would have been easier to destroy me when you first met me, when you first realized who I was, then you wouldn't have to face the disappointment and defeat coming your way."

Pitch let out an angry roar as he fired one attack after another. He was blinded by his anger that his aim was terribly off from where I was, I barely had to move.

"Believe it or not, your fear had made me stronger, it made me realize who I always was." My voice grew louder as I could feel my power ready to be unleashed. "Pitch Black, you might not feel needed or believed in, in this world. But you can be better than hiding under beds or in closets', you can be better than all of that. You can have everyone face their fears, bring out their true strength and help them succeed!"

Pitch stood there, in a daze as he listened, but it wasn't before long that he scowled as a response. "NO!" He shouted once again, as he readied his dark scythe and swung at me.

But, not before my power was released from my body, a numbing wave of light spread throughout the area, followed by a bright light, of which I was the source of. Blinded by my own power, all I could feel was a numbing sensation crawl long my body, my hair whipping around my face. I opened my eyes once I know that my power had died down enough to endure. And when I did open them, looking down, I saw that my hands and wrists were covered with shining rings and bangles. I was wearing a dress. The most perfect and faultless dress I have ever seen, It was strapless, it sparkled from stardust that attached itself to it, as the fabric flowed from my waist down, it was high in the front and dragged low in the back. The dress had even came with matching goddess-like sandals.

My face became bright red and started to burn as I continued to look at myself again and again. "You know what?" I then started to pace, irritated. "I was okay with the talking man in the moon, I was okay with freaky magical beings coming into my life," I continue as I point to Pitch, who was on the ground, looking at me with shock. "I was okay when one of them was trying to destroy me, and I was okay with finding out I am one of the freaky magical beings, but this?! A dress? Oh-ho no, no, I would like my Converse, ripped jeans and baggy sweater back now!"

Jack spoke up. "Um…" He went to touch my shoulder and I gently place my hand over his.

I take a breath with a smile. "Sorry…I'm fine."

My focused returned to the knocked down foe, as I saw him, frighteningly, trying to scurry away.

"Impossible! This cannot be!" He yelled in agony.

I sighed and came around so I stood in front of him. "I meant what I said, Pitch." I extended my hand to him. "You don't have to do this…you can be better than this."

The expression on his face was hesitant, before smacking my hand away. "And I meant what I said." He then snarled.

"Then you leave me with no choice." I said.

As calmly as I could, I closed my eyes, my hand hovered over him as little twinkling stars appeared and fell from the palm of my hand, slowly covering every inch of Pitch Black. The stars soon engulfed Pitch who continued to thrash around till the last moment, then left no trace of him.

The guardians and children looked shocked as they saw what took place.

"Where is he?" Tooth asked nervously.

I looked away with sad eyes. "Gone…for good."

"What?" North hoarsely whispered.

I then cracked a smile. "I'm kidding!" I walked over to everyone. "He's back where he belongs for now, under the bed." I held my head up high. "And will remain there until Manny or I say otherwise."

Sandman made a quick realization and pointed to the sky, with sand hovered above his head, making the shape of the moon then an arrow pointing the sky.

"Yeah, what happened to the big fella?" Bunny spoke.

"Manny is fine." I respond.

They all looked at each other then back at me.

"He was sick, as that was my fault, for he couldn't go through his moon phases for such a long time now." I folded my hands over my heart. "Back then, I sacrificed myself, I used my power to stop Pitch, and in order to do so I halted Manny's moon phases until I was able returned." I looked around at everyone. "Don't worry, you will al see him tomorrow night as a new moon. Until then, I will look after the sky, and watch over everyone, for I am Manny's…you could say, right-hand man?"

"So you're—" Jack began to say something.

"You're the wishing star!" Jaime yelled excitedly.

North, with a look of amazement on his face, whispered. "The wishing star…" Then jumped and ran over to me, scooping me up in his arms before giving me a bone-crushing hug. "The wishing star! Ah-ha!"

"That's…right." I had a hard time saying as it felt like North was crushing my insides.

North released me as Tooth zoomed over to me, with a gentle hug, Bunny and Sandman patted my on the back and shoulder with approved nods, as I returned the gesture. The children came up to me, eyes looking at me in awe and amazement.

"So," Jacked nudged. "What changed?"

"Not much, other than the star-related super powers, my clothes and the fact that I went from a normal human, or so I thought I was, to a magical being known to be a Guardian." I sarcastically responded.

"That's not what I'm asking." He rolled his eyes.

I sighed. "It turns out that when everyone else believed me, it was I who didn't believe in myself." I smiled kindly.

He returned the smile as we just stared at each other for a moment.

"Oh! That reminds me." I said.

"What?" Jack asked.

I winded back my fist before swinging a punch at Jack's arm.

"OW!" He winced and rubbed the spot where a bruise would soon appear. "What was that for?"

"That was for abandoning me, keeping me locked up in the planetarium, being dumb and not listening to me!" I sternly listed off, as I walked closer and closer to Jack who slowly back away from me. "Where do you think you're going Jack Frost?"

"Hey wind!" Jack yelled.

I felt the wind pick up, but before it could whisk him away I grabbed his hand and pulled him down close enough for me to stand on my tippy-toes and lightly kissed Jack's cheek. "Thank you." I whispered and let him go.

Jack came back down on to the ground, his hand touching his cheek and I could see his pale cheeks show a bit of pink.

Behind me I could hear giggling. When I turned I saw everyone bunched together, staring. I cleared my throat and walked back to them as if nothing happened.

"Well then, it's late, I think it's time for us to go now, right North?" I said to him.

He out a low, soft laugh. "You are right." He called upon his sleigh and prepared for takeoff.

The Guardians gathered in as the children said their goodbyes. As I'm about to walk o felt a tug on my dress. I looked down to see Sophie who looked at me with sadness.

I sighed and picked her up in my arms. "Don't worry, little one." I softly said, pushing back her blonde hair. The rest of the children then gathered around. "I'll be seeing you, watching over you, all of you…" I put her down, where she held on to her brother, Jaime's hand. "Whenever you may need me, I'm just a wish away." I winked and made my way to the sleigh.

Jack came along beside me. "I'm only a wish away?" He repeated.

I rolled my eyes and laughed. "I know, it's cheesy."

"Actually I was just wondering if that implies to me as well."

"We'll just have to see now won't we?" I perked up an eyebrow and walked on ahead, where Bunny extended his paw for me to help me into the sleigh.

Grabbing the hem of my dress, I took Bunny's offer, giving him a warm smile as I climbed into the sleigh. I sat next to Tooth who took my hand with a smile. Babytooth popped out from behind her and fluttered over to my, nuzzling into my cheek. I patted the little creature on the head, who then flew over to Jack who took a seat across from me and beside Sandy. Sandy looked at me with a pleasing grin as the sand above his hand gave a thumbs up. I once again returned the gesture with my own hand. Ahead North looked back at us from the front of the sleigh and nodded. I did the same and soon enough we took off into the sky. I raised my hand and fired some of my power into the air, where starlight fireworks exploded beautifully.

THE END