Chapter 21: Christmas Day

The sun slowly rose over the horizon on a beautiful Christmas morning. Freshly fallen snow covered the ground, making it seem beautiful and magical as it sparkled in the sunlight. Beams of light passed through the slightly frosted window and entered the dark bedroom. As more light entered, the room started to lighten up as it traveled around the room. The light slowly made its way to one of the two sleeping children in the bedroom.

A soft moan escaped the young boy's lips as his face was hit by the light. His nose scrunched up in discomfort and he attempted to hide from the light. But the light was persistent. For today was a very special day for the young Overland children. It was Christmas Day.

One brown, unforced eye cracked open. He slowly opened the other one and waited for his vision to focus. With a groan, he sat up and looked around. It was still fairly early in the morning, too easy actually. Jackson was used to getting up early to shepherd the sheep, but that would be in an hour or two.

Jackson yawned and glanced at the window. The window was coated with pretty designs made of frost. Jackson could see small snowflakes falling gently down and touching the window.

Jackson smiled softly as he got out of bed. He walked towards his sister's bed and smiled softly when he saw Night waking up. Night's ears flicked and she opened her yellow eyes (although, he swore it looked like gold at times.) when he passed by her corner.

"Merry Christmas, Master."

Jackson smiled. "Merry Christmas, Night. Sleep well?"

She nodded as she proceeded to get up. "Yes, are you going to open the presents now?" she asked.

Jackson nodded. "Yeah, you want to wake Koz and mom for me?"

"As you wish," she said as she turned around and walked into a shadow.

Jackson returned his attention to his sleeping sister. Flee was sleeping peacefully as she snuggled into her bear fur covers. Her hair was tousled and bedridden as she continued to sleep, oblivious of Jackson being there. Jackson smiled softly as he shook her shoulder.

"Flee, wake up. Wake up, Flee."

Flee moaned in her sleep. "Not now Jack," she said sleepily.

Jackson smiled mischievously. "Oh, but I thought you wanted me to wake you up so we can open…our presents." Jackson whispered the last part into his sister's ear and watched in amusement as her eyes snapped open to stare at him.

"Presents!" Jackson chuckled as his sister removed her covers and jumped off the bed. She then proceeded to snatch his hand and dragged him out of the room.

Emily tended to her garden of Seasonal Flowers. These flowers were a part of her in a sense. They were made of very ancient magic from her home world.

Emily gazed at the petals of the growing Seasonal Flowers as she dug some dirt and planted some seeds before covering it up again. The Seasonal Flowers had four different color petals: a reddish-orange, a whitish-blue, a bright green, and dark green mixed with brown, orange, and yellow. In the center of the flower were four pink buds, one for each of her precious seasons.

The flowers made her smile. The Seasonal Flowers were very special and her absolute favorite. These wonderful flowers had a very unique ability to negate any spirits' powers. The flowers also had the ability to create a barrier. The barrier varies depending on the environment and could either trap a spirit within the barrier or keep others out, depending on the owner who activated its abilities. However, the flower had one flaw: if destroyed or removed from its resting place, the spell would be broken.

Emily hummed as she began to plant another seed in the hole that she created. She began patting the ground when she felt the tightening in her chest. Emily gasped as she felt ancient magic returning to her. Emily froze in place as she stared at the flowers that she had grown. Her eyes were unfocused as she waited for the tightness in her chest to dissolve.

Fluffy white clouds turned an ugly gray, making the sky seem dark and eery. The clouds rumbled and roared as lightening bolts angrily flashed across the sky. The winds whipped around the trees violently as they responded to Emily's emotions. Emily's tilted her face to the sky and glared at it.

The Guardians destroyed my flower. She wasn't sure how they found it. She hid it in the Globe Room with the other plants Nicholas had above the fireplace. It was hidden well, unless the Guardians got so weak that their magic was weaker than her flower, making it easier for that Pooka to pick up the scent.

Emily screamed at the thought of the Guardians destroying her beautiful flower. She was going to make their lives a living hell!

Emily glared at the lightning bolts that flashed across the sky. They were going to pay dearly. But first, she had to inform her father about this before it was too late. She was starting to get a very bad feeling that something bad was going to happen.

He was a bit disoriented when he returned to consciousness. It was amazing that he could wake up at all. After losing so many believers, he felt so tired and fell into a coma (so to speak). Sanderson slowly opened his eyes and noticed that light was entering the huge windows of Nicholas's Workshop. The sound of grumbles and footsteps could be heard. Sanderson recognized them as the Yetis. Sanderson also heard the voices of his fellow Guardians behind him. The coach that he was on was near the fireplace and facing the globe, so he wasn't facing the others.

"So you weren't able to deliver presents to all the children?" Sanderson heard Toothiana ask.

"I'm afraid not." Nicholas sounded upset and tired. "By the time I got to the new world it was already morning."

"The poor dears will be so disappointed."

Sanderson shifted his eyes to the globe. He noticed the east side was glowing brightly with yellow lights. Well, that explains why I managed to wake up. He frowned when he noticed that the west side of the globe was either dimming or going out.

"Pitch had taken advantage of our absence," Aster's Austrian voice said with a hint of disgust and anger. "I felt the lights going out. No doubt from him."

"We have to stop him!" Toothiana yelled as her wings beat faster. "I'll knock a tooth out of his mouth for giving those awful nightmares to the children!"

Sanderson felt his heart cringe for the other sand wielder. Pitch was just doing his job. He needed to give nightmares to the children. Like him and his dreams, nightmares are needed to preserve the balance.

Sanderson sighed and shifted his eyes to the ceiling. He was aware that Aster was the cause for fueling the flames of hatred towards Pitch. Pitch had killed his kind, but that was not his fault. He had lost control. It saddened him to think that a good man could cause so much destruction, unknowingly. It made him wonder what would happen if he ever lost control of his sand. Would he be seen as a monster too? Would he destroy everything that he loved and cared for?

Sanderson shuddered and sighed as he tried to move. He could move a little, but not enough for his comfort. He might need a little more believers before he could fly again. With another sigh, he tried to move his legs.

Sanderson blinked when he saw moonbeams coming into the room. The others gasped. "Well, it's about time," Aster yelled.

"What's he saying?" Toothiana asked.

Sanderson stared at the beam as he heard the message. Unlike other spirits, sand wielders had special abilities, aside from giving nightmares or pleasant dreams to children or granting wishes. Sand wielders, like him and Pitch, were able to read different languages and different magics that associated with them to help answer they greatest wish or fear.

Do not harm Pitch Black!

"Manny is saying something about Pitch!" Toothiana exclaimed.

Sanderson blinked. Did Manny finally realize something?

I have made a grave error. He is not a monster or evil. He is not harming the children.

"I don't understand, Manny," Nicholas said in confusion. "What is Pitch doing to the children? Is he harming them?"

Do not harm Pitch Black. Stop this war. Do not attack him anymore? He has finally found his missing family.

Sanderson gasped. Pitch found his family? He thought Mother Nature was his only family. Maybe there was another other than the people from his home world. Sanderson smiled. If Pitch had his family then maybe the war between them could finally end. He just hoped the others didn't interrupt the message wrong.

The tree looked beautiful as light gently reflected off the ice horse ornaments. The horse ornaments were a gift from Emily and Kozmotis. These ornaments were made of ice and black sand and it just seemed to make the tree sparkle as the light touched them. Jackson loved the little horses. It reminded him of his older brother's Nightmares. It was such a wonderful gift, considering they never had a Christmas Tree before. But when he and Flee made it downstairs they paused.

Jackson could only stare at the presents with a raised brow. It seemed that Santa never came to their house since the presents that were under the tree were the ones that his brother brought. I guess Santa never came. Jackson wasn't sure why he felt a slight pain in his chest. He was upset that the Guardians were fighting his brother and it annoyed him greatly, but shouldn't the Guardians make an attempt to make sure they were alright? Or at least make sure their belief in them was still there?

Jackson shook his head at that thought. No, it doesn't matter. We don't need them. Jackson looked at his sister, who seem slightly disappointed that Santa didn't come to give them presents. We are fine with Koz, Who needs the Guardians anyway?

"Merry Christmas!" Jackson and Flee jumped and glanced behind them when they heard Kozmotis's greeting. Kozmotis and their mother stopped behind them, giving them curious looks.

"Is something wrong dears?" their mother asked.

"No," Jackson said with a smile. He knew it was forced but he didn't care. "We were just admiring the ornaments."

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" their mother asked with a soft smile.

They both nodded in response. "Let's open the presents now!" Flee said, disturbing the comfortable silence.

Jackson chuckled and ruffled her hair. "Sure thing kiddo."

Pitch watched with a smile as Jackson and Flee were given their first present to open. He had given his favorite and only believers two presents each and gave one present to the beautiful women next to him. Although, she decided to not open hers just yet.

Pitch watched silently as Jackson and Flee tore the golden paper off the bigger present first. Both children seemed so excited to finally get to know what he got them. Oh, they were in for a surprise.

He couldn't help the grin that formed on his face as the two children gasped in surprise. Within each box laid two new ice skates. Flee's skates were a nice white laced with gold and Jackson's was black laced with gold. Pitch had decided that it was about time that they got a new one. The old ones they had were just about ready to be thrown out.

"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" Pitch was slightly startled by the hug he got from the younger girl. But his shock didn't last too long. He returned the embrace with a smile.

"You are very welcome, Flee." He shifted his eyes to his younger brother to see that he had tears in his eyes. He too was touched by the gift. Jackson smiled at him and thanked him as well. That made Pitch's heart warmed a bit. He did love having his brother in his life.

"Oh, Pitch." Pitch glanced at Susanna then with a soft smile. Wide brown eyes were staring in awe at the blue dress. The dress was a nice light blue that had sheer sleeves and a cape that sparkled like freshly fallen snow. White snowflakes were stitched into the skirt of the dress and laced with gold trimmings, making it look like it had just fallen from the sky. The dress was absolutely gorgeous. "It's beautiful."

Pitch sighed in relief. He was glad to see that she liked it. It had taken him a week to create the dress. Although it wasn't hard considering she was the same height, size and weight as his Caroline. Pitch felt a small level a guilt but pushed it aside. Caroline would want him to move on and love again, right?

"Ooooh," Pitch glanced back at the children to see that they opened their smaller gifts. In them were the same necklaces that he had given Susanna.

"Is this the same stuff that could turn us into a spirit?" Flee asked. Pitch nodded, earning a bright smile on her face.

"Cool!" Jackson said this time as he placed the necklace around his neck and helped his sister with hers. "I can't wait 'till were are older." Flee squealed and smiled in response. Pitch nodded and forced a smile on his face to hide the pain. If only you would live to adulthood, Jackson. If only you would.

Sanderson frowned as the others rushed towards the sleigh after figuring out that Pitch was still in Burgess. He wasn't surprised that the others misinterpreted Manny's message. They thought he meant that Pitch was harming the children and that they should go after him. Of course, Aster encouraged this since he still had a grudge over what Pitch did to his family and race. He really needed to get over it.

Sanderson sighed and tried to fly. He only managed to float an inch off the ground. He cursed at his luck and wished his powers would come back soon. The others were leaving him behind in order for him to rest and gather his strength. However, all he wanted to do was stop them from making the worse mistake of their lives.

But of course the other didn't listen to him. They didn't interpret his message right and gave up after several tries. Sanderson sighed. He hoped his powers hurried up and come back soon.

Pitch was not in a good mood. He had to leave his family earlier than he wanted. Pitch gritted his teeth as Onyx told him that the Guardians escaped and that she spotted North delivering presents. He had a very bad feeling about this situation. He glanced at Susanna. Jackson, Flee, and Night had just left to go ice skating just moments ago.

"Is something wrong?" Susanna asked.

"Onyx just spotted the Guardians in Europe."

Susanna gasped. She looked nervously at the door. "Should we go after Jackson and Flee?" she asked worriedly.

Pitch bit the inside of his cheek. He was worried about his younger brother safety, but at the same time, he had to make sure the Guardians didn't get close to the village. There was no doubt that once North got back to the North Pole they would come here. He gritted his teeth in frustration.

"Pitch?" Susanna gently took his hand in hers.

Pitch sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. "They are coming here and I need to gather my Nightmares to fight them."

Susanna nodded in understanding. "I can go after them," she suggested.

"I can send one of my Nightmares to go with you."

Susanna smiled and pecked him on the cheek. "Thank you," she said with a smile.

Pitch nodded and turned towards Onyx. "Take care of Susanna and help her find Jackson and Flee. When you do, take them to my lair."

Onyx nodded. "As you wish Master."

Pitch nodded and turned back to Susanna. "Be safe."

Pitch smiled. "I will." And then he walked into the shadows and entered his throne room. He called all his Nightmares and within minutes they appeared. Millions of Nightmare Horses appeared, waiting for his command. "It is time," he told them. "The Guardians are coming."