Chapter 17
November came and went and December greeted the inhabitants of Blackpool with the first snow fall of the month.
The Christmas spirit was strong and alive within the people, especially the children. Grace was also excited for Christmas, including the surprise Pitch had promised to show her.
Upon returning to school after the contest, Grace was informed that Megan was expelled and had been barred from other art schools in the county of Lancashire.
True to her word, Grace spilt her reward money by half and gave it to Lizzy. In return, Lizzy gave her a new kitten that had been born in the barn.
Grace named her new cat Constable, after John Constable, a famous British landscape artist.
Throughout this time, Pitch had done his duty in watching over Grace and continued it. For Lizzy's kindness, he also protected her from the nightmares and had asked the Sand Man to award her with a good dream.
However, Pitch had run into night terrors, but he believed that they were strays, as their mistress Mora had been "dead" for many centuries. Right now, however, he was not sure if Mora was really dead.
Now, it was the last week of school and Grace and the other students were taking the last few finals before being released for Christmas break.
Finally, at the end of the day, Grace and the students finished on the finals and headed out.
Snow had started to fall and continued to blanket the city and countryside throughout the day and into the next morning.
"It seems that Jack Frost has picked a new place to play," Grace's father commented on the weather.
Grace ventured out into the snowy meadow next to her house and left foot prints in the fresh white powder.
"Pitch?" she whispered and waited for an answer.
She then heard Erebos neighing in reply and the black Pegasus and his master stepped out.
Pitch gave a bow to her and so did Erebos. "Grace, I'll let you in on a little secret," the boogeyman said and whispers, "You're surprise is at the North Pole and Erebos and I will be taking you there tonight."
"Oh! I get to meet Santa Clause?!" she exclaimed, but Pitch didn't answer.
Erebos nudged at Grace and she petted his neck. "I advise you to go to sleep early and wake up at midnight. We will be waiting," Pitch said to Grace and she nodded.
"Should I wear anything special?" she asked.
"Just something warm, like a robe, and bed slippers. Oh and bring your sketchbook, I sort of promised the guardians to have you show your work," he replied and he and Erebos left her.
Grace occupied herself for the rest of the day by creating a snow horse. She was not only good with charcoal, but she was also good in sculpting in snow.
Grace continued in creating the snow horse and had completed it when the sun was going down. She retreated inside her warm house and went to bed early, but she first set her alarm clock to 11:59 and went to sleep.
A few hours later, the alarm clock rang and Grace shut it off before her parents could hear.
She put on her winter blue robe and matching bed slippers and took her sketchbook. She quietly tiptoed down the stairs and headed out the door.
She noticed that Pitch and Erebos were looking at the snow horse she had made. "Grace, you never told me you can do this," the boogeyman said to her.
"I should have, but you left before I said anything," Grace replied.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking," he said and Erebos nudged at him. "Alright, alright, we're going."
Pitch helped Grace up onto the Pegasus and he got on. "Hold on tight," he commanded and gave a little kick.
Erebos went into a gallop, spread his wings, and went up into the sky.
The three flew above a white landscape of countryside as they entered Scotland and continued north.
The Pegasus then flew above a sea, ice floes were scattered and the three had spotted a few humpback whales.
They reached the Arctic region and Pitch knew they were getting close when they saw the Northern Lights.
Erebos landed close to North's workshop and Pitch helped Grace down. "This is Santa's home?" she asked and Pitch nods.
He took her hand and leads her up the stairs and they stopped in front of a set of stain-glass doors.
Pitch and Grace opened the doors and Grace gave a look of surprise when she saw the toy-making yetis.
The yetis parted, making a path for the two and they walked around a balcony of some sort. Grace and Pitch walked into a circle and the girl gasped in surprise when she saw the big man with the white beard and red shirt.
"There she is! Grace Dawson!" North exclaimed and opened his arms for her. Grace embraced him and they hugged.
"I knew it! You are real!" she exclaimed and couldn't stop the tears of joy from falling from her eyes.
"You've been a very good girl this year, Grace, and now, it's time for a party," North said, but he first introduced the other guardians to her.
"The Tooth Fairy!" she gasped and Tooth and her assistants gave smiles. "Oh, you are beautiful and your assistants are so cute," Grace added and Baby Tooth rubbed up against her cheek.
"Oh thank you," Tooth replied.
Grace shook hands with Sandy, but he didn't say a word. "He doesn't talk much," Bunnymund said to the girl and she gasped.
"You're the Easter Bunny!" she said and scratched behind his ears. Bunnymund's foot thumped in response and Grace giggled.
"And here's Jack Frost," Pitch said and Grace turned to face the winter spirit.
She stared at Jack for a long time, but she shook her head. "Nice to meet you Jack and I should thank you for bringing the snow to my little part of the world," she said.
"You're quite welcome," he replied and he turned to face North. "I believe it's time to start the music," he added and North agreed.
He clapped his hands and some yetis began to play on the instruments, but they were not good.
"Not to brag, but I think they could turn it up a notch," Jack said, while creating some snowflakes and they touched the music-playing yetis.
*Then, the yetis began to bring the liveliness out and everyone began to dance.
"May I?" Jack asked Grace, holding out a hand. She took it and they began to dance. Pitch watched from the side, clapping to the beat, but deep down, he felt a sense of jealousy toward Jack.
When the yetis finished the first song, Grace and Jack completed their dance and they bowed.
"I want to dance with him," she said, pointing to Pitch and Grace took his hands.
They started their dance, but Grace looks at Jack and says, "I had a lot of fun, Jack!" The winter spirit smiled in response.
Grace and Pitch danced to the beat of the bagpipes and drums.
Then, North and Bunnymund got on a table and the big man began to do a tap dance. "Show off! I can do better!" the Easter Bunny shouted and he began to dance.
Everyone began to clap and cheer and Grace and Pitch joined in on the tap dance. Grace took off her slippers and did it barefoot.
There were cheers and claps as the song came to an end.
Pitch and Grace came upon a game of mercy with Bunnymund and Jack. Pitch took two glasses of apple cider and Grace gulped the whole drink down and he looks at her in amazement.
"What? You haven't seen a girl drink before?" she asked and Pitch just chuckled.
Then, Jack won the game of mercy and everyone cheered, but Bunnymund groaned.
"So?" Grace said to them, "You fellows think you're tough? Watch this," she added and handed the bottom of her robe to Pitch and he held it up.
Then, Grace rose off the floor and stood on her tip-toes and everyone looked at her in bewilderment.
Grace couldn't hold it any longer and collapsed, but Pitch caught her. "I admit it, that was my first time," she said to him.
The two went for another dance, but they got tangled up in the wave of excitement and they crashed to the floor.
North ordered the music to stop and helped Grace and Pitch to their feet.
"Come, there's something I want you to see," he said and showed her outside and led her to a stable.
Inside, the reindeer got excited when they saw the newcomer and Grace petted them.
North called for the elves to bring something and they brought in a wrapped gift.
Meanwhile, Grace had shown her drawings to the guardians. "Grace, these are beautiful," Tooth commented.
"Grace, this is for you, Merry Christmas," North said and gave her the gift.
She unwrapped it, revealing a wooden case with her name craved so elegantly on it and she opened it. Inside, there were dozens of charcoals pencils, nicely sharpened and a small sketchbook was tied tight on the side.
"Grace," Pitch said, "I hate to say this, but it's time to go."
Grace gave the guardians a hug and they watched her and Pitch get on Erebos. "Hold it!" North exclaimed and Pitch looked at him. "I did say that I would be the first to forgive you," North said to the boogeyman. At that moment, the jolly man took Pitch by the shoulders and North kissed both his cheeks. Pitch felt embarrassed when North let him go and Grace couldn't help, but laugh.
"Wait a minute," Tooth said and flies up to Pitch. She bows her head and says, "I forgive you." Pitch nodded his head in return.
Pitch got on Erebos and the guardians waved goodbye and the Pegasus went up into the sky and headed back to Blackpool.
The three made it back before the sun rose and Pitch helped her off the Pegasus and led her to her house.
Pitch stopped and Grace walked up to the stoop and looked back. Pitch gave a wave, but Grace felt sad. She sat her new case and sketchbook down and ran up to him and they embraced. "I had fun tonight, the best in my life" she said.
Grace went inside and Pitch couldn't help but smile.
"I had fun, too," he said to the Pegasus.
Then, a cold wind blew in and Pitch looked around and Jack Frost came into view.
"Are you here to ask for another favor?" Pitch asked the winter spirit.
"No, I'm here to inform that the big boss wants to see all of us, right now," Jack replied and he rode on with the wind.
Pitch looked up at Grace's window and then got on Erebos and they headed off towards the moon.
()()()()()()()
*For this part, I want you to visualize it like the third class party scene from the movie, Titanic (1997).