Cupid's Rising

Good Morning, Mister Sandman

Pitch was putting up a good fight- I'd given him that. Though like anyone with a brain for war could tell you, he was leading us away to a place where he could control the fight. Why the others hadn't noticed our fight suddenly ending up in a darkened bus lot was anyone's guess.

"It's over Pitch! There's no place to hide." Jack warned.

Except Pitch, like all before him, just fucking grinned at us.

He dissolved into the shadows. The other Guardians jumped to their guards, looking at the shadows of him along the walls. I stood my ground, pretending to pay attention but keeping an arrow docked. When he appeared behind Jack with the axe, I'd be ready.

"Cupid, look out!" Bunnymund yelled.

Turning around I saw Pitch holding the axe above my head.

Well wasn't that a change.

And a disappointment

I would've looked so badass if I turned at the same moment he showed up behind me

Damn asshole

Ruining my badassery

You'll die for that

I pulled the arrow off the bow. Pitch raised the axe higher, ready to drop it.

A golden whip grabbed his arm, keeping him from dropping the axe on my head.

Okay...cool...badass...but it's interrupting my vengeance so I hate it.

My own fist was about to stab the arrow into his stomach. To my disappointed the whip dragged Pitch away- over the buses.

Suddenly, I remembered the rest of the movie. The scenes that Morgan had cried- well cried as much as me or her could cry, which was not at all, but her eyes watered a bit- at, grabbing my arm because had I seen that?! The joy on her face at the sight of all the Guardians coming together to kick ass.

More importantly, I remembered that my arrow hadn't killed him.

Death should be mourned.

Unless caused by my hand, in which case it should be praised.

I never mourned anything.

And Pitch had made me mourn a kill.

His kill.

Done by my blade.

I don't mourn.

Ever.

Now, it was a kill made undone.

It made a smirk come to me, because now I had more reason than before to have fun.

Flying over the buses, I saw Pitch being raked across the coals towards a swirling golden cocoon. That made me grin wider. I followed Pitch, not caring or watching if the others followed.

The Nightmare King was brought to the edges of the cocoon. A shape was beginning to take form in the center of the cocoon, becoming brighter and brighter the more golden sand was poured into it.

A quick glance to my right showed all the children, dashing around the streets to hit as many Nightmares as they could. Lilac herself was running with all the speed of her true form. Each touch to black sand left gold- she smiled and laughed loud enough that it echoed on the street.

The cocoon flared it's brightness.

The Sandman stepped out.

I cheered, hollering and spinning mid-air in delight. Behind me, the Guardians and Jack cheered too.

Across the way, the Sandman scolded Pitch with a wagging finger. He uppercut Pitch on the jaw, sending him soaring up and up and up. Sandy kept a hold of him by the whip, still tied around Pitch's arm.

The kids must have finally noticed the glowing cocoon. They all walked towards it, gawking at the golden sand that continued to stretch out beyond us.

It was like just the return of Sandman gave him back all his powers- which he used without hesitation. His golden sand moved beyond the city-beyond the horizon as I could see- to all the kids who were asleep. Or at least all that Sandy could reach.

The Guardians were standing taller at that thought. Tooth's wings fluttered with more life. Bunnymund was standing taller-didn't think it was possible, but go figure. North was hollering with more jolly than I'd ever seen (keep in mind, I've seen Morgan Spencer get a new book about werewolves) in one go.

The kids ran up to Sandy. "Whoa! The Sandman!" They cheered.

Sandy made himself a bowler hat, tipping it to the kids. Jamie waved back. Lilac curtsied- as if she thought it was the proper reply to a hat tipping. Then again, her mom was Morgan Spencer and I was her aunt. There was a good chance we forgot how to tell her nonsense like that.

Anyway, it didn't matter to the kids. They kept on chattering in excitement at the Guardian given form before their eyes.

The whip holding Pitch went boink. No doubt it's bee stretched to it's limit. Sandy glanced up the whip with distaste. He cracked it down. Pitch soared toward so the ground- much faster than he'd gone off it.

Pitch hit the ground so hard he bounced off it, slamming face down twice onto the snow and hard ground beneath it.

The Guardians went to Sandy, greeting him like they hadn't just come from his funeral. Which was just yesterday morning.

"Welcome back, old friend!" North cheered. He hoisted Sandy up in the air, which made Sandy laugh.

"Sandy." Jack greeted, stunned.

"Oh, Sandy. You're alright!" Tooth flew to Sandy's side, giving him a hug that was returned.

Bunnymund joined in on the hug. "Sandy, come here!"

"Yeah!"

"Mate, you are a sight for sore eyes!" Bunnymund cheered as the hug came to a close.

I stood to the side, glaring down at Pitch. My smirk had only gotten wider as I watched butterflies fly about his head.

A sudden idea came to me. Walking to his side, I touched a butterfly with one of my purple arrows.

The sand corrupted- much like it would if Pitch himself had touched them. They shifted from gold to purple, the butterflies changing to moths. Or, they changed to Mothra. All in all, I loved it.

Sandy began to ascend, to send out his Dreamsand to all the kids of the world. I didn't give it much attention. Instead I looked over at Lilac. She had an expression of awe, watching the sand stretching out around.

Now I get why Morgan always brought a camera with her.

So she could take photos of things like that.

Huh.

Finally getting a hang of this whole...emotion thing.

This is...it's good...yeah.

Good.

==CR==

AN: Also, can't believe I missed this, I've officially published more than 1 million words on this site! WOOHOO!!