The Sandman and the War of Dreams (16 page)

“Oh, and twelve arms isn’t?” countered North.

“I’d have grown one hundred and twenty arms to save Katherine,” the rabbit replied curtly, then gave her a dozen simultaneous salutes.

“Is that all, Bunnymund?” asked Toothiana, smiling. “I made thousands of fairies.”

The rabbit sniffed and wiggled his whiskers. “Hmm. I hate to say it, but you have a point, Your Highness.” His ears twitched like mad. “I’ll have to start working on a stronger chocolate. Now, if the ratio of cacao beans to each arm is four to one, then I’d need—”

Bunnymund’s calculations were interrupted by Kailash, who waddled up between North and Katherine, honking like mad. Katherine was ecstatic to see her beloved Snow Goose. She hugged the massive bird’s neck till Kailash pecked her.

The bustle of conversation was joyous and loud and went on till dusk. Katherine was in awe of North’s city glittering around her. She gazed up at the turrets, admiring the exacting carvings and sculptural work, delighting over the colors—red and white stripes—North had chosen. And though Katherine was very
happy to see it all—and them all—there was one to whom she very much wanted to speak. She looked through the crowd. Where was he?

But Nightlight knew.

As he brought Sandy through the excited group, Katherine motioned for the little man to come closer. He bowed as he neared her. She smiled at him, and he smiled back. His magnificent, peaceful smile. Though they had never actually met, they knew each other well. They were comrades from the land of sleep and dreams.

The other Guardians began to all talk at once.

“Ah!” said North. “Mansnoozie! At last we actually meet.”

“Such remarkable sand,” commented Ombric. “I am ashamed I didn’t recognize it at once.”

“I don’t often dream, you know,” Bunnymund
told him. “Pookas dream only one night in every thousand years. I do hope you haven’t damaged my sleep cycle.”

Toothiana smacked one of her wings across Bunnymund’s left ear. “You don’t have to say
everything
that comes into your head!” she whispered.

“Oh no, not you too,” the rabbit said, groaning. “I have to have human lessons from you
and
North?”

But one by one, they all grew quiet. They once again knew what Katherine was thinking. The great link of their friendship had finally been restored. In the silence that surrounded them, Katherine looked at Sandy. He didn’t say a word.
He’s like Nightlight and me,
she thought.
He doesn’t need to say much to be heard. His greatness was in his
doing.
He risked his life to save mine! Is there any greater gift?
She’d not heard
his story, but from the other Guardians, she knew: He was one of them. And she knew exactly what was required.

“Kneel,” said Katherine to the little man, her voice carrying out over the crowd. “And take this oath.” Sandy kneeled before them.

Then they all said the Guardians oath together:

“We will watch over the children of Earth,

Guide them safely from the ways of harm,

Keep happy their hearts, brave their souls,

and rosy their cheeks.

We will guard with our lives their hopes

and dreams,

For they are all that we have, all that we are,

And all that we will ever be.”

“From now on,” said Katherine, “you will be known as His Nocturnal Magnificence, Sanderson Mansnoozie, Sandman the First, Lord High Protector of Sleep and Dreams, and Guardian to the Children of Earth. Rise, Sandy!”

Sandy rose.
I’ve traveled to every corner of the universe,
he thought.
But this is where I belong now.
The full Moon shined down upon them. Deafening cheers filled the crystal clear air. Katherine had returned. A great new city had been built. The Guardians were reunited and stronger by one.

The northern lights shimmered out from the North Pole and could be seen all the way to Santoff Claussen.

Nightlight looked out at North’s beautiful new city, and for the first time in his ancient life, he felt he was no longer separate from these people he’d called
the “Tall Ones” and “Short Ones.” He was no longer Nightlight, the boy without a past. Nor was he Nightlight, the boy of endless tomorrows. Tonight he was different. Villains had been vanquished. Spells had been broken. And new spells had been made.

The city of North’s dream

Katherine and Nightlight stood together amid the cheering crowds. Their happiness was linked with everyone else’s, but distinct. It was a private happiness that only the closest friendships know when they have weathered a great change. Nightlight took a small pouch from his pocket and
gave her the words of the stories that Mr. Qwerty had cried out of her book. He had saved her past and her present. And she his. But his future? That was now like all who grow up: a tantalizing mystery. As the moonbeam had told Sandy, he couldn’t use the power of the kiss and stay a Nightlight. Change was coming. Nightlight could feel that. But he was not alone. Katherine once again took his hand.

C
HAPTER
T
HIRTY
-S
IX

Nightlight At Last Sleeps

T
HE CELEBRATION LASTED TILL
very late, long past everyone’s bedtime.

Good dreams were had by all. Even Nightlight. For the first time, the boy who never slept finally did. Such dreams! Mansnoozie was amazed by their power.

If only Nightlight hadn’t slept.

He’d have been on watch, as he always was before.

He’d have seen Pitch crawl from his Nightmare Rock as it sat in the empty center of the city that was meant to bring about his end.

Pitch’s plan was almost complete. He’d read all of Katherin’es memories when she was under his nightmare spell. It was he who sent the dream of North’s city to them. They had built everything as he had hoped. Unknowingly, the Guardians themselves had smuggled him into the one place he most needed to be. Now he could win this war once and for all. . . .

I
N OUR NEXT BOOK, THE EXCITING CLIMAX TO

THE

G
UARDIANS

SAGA, INCLUDING:

A desperate journey to the Moon itself!

The Great War on the dark side of the Moon!

The Man in the Moon’s secret realm!

The armies of Moonbots!

The greatest battle since the Golden Age!

The Guardians’ powers tested as never before!

Katherine’s and Nightlight’s fate unfold!

Also by William Joyce

T
HE
G
UARDIANS:
B
OOK
O
NE

Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King

T
HE
G
UARDIANS:
B
OOK
T
WO

E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth’s Core!

T
HE
G
UARDIANS:
B
OOK
T
HREE

Toothiana, Queen of the Tooth Fairy Armies

T
HE
G
UARDIANS OF
C
HILDHOOD:
B
OOK
O
NE

The Man in the Moon

T
HE
G
UARDIANS OF
C
HILDHOOD:
B
OOK
T
WO

The Sandman: The Story of Sanderson Mansnoozie

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020

www.SimonandSchuster.com

This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Text copyright © 2013 by William Joyce

Illustrations copyright © 2011, 2012, 2013 by William Joyce