Pitch POV

Anara Rose went eerily still in the Nightmare King's arms. "Anara!" Pitch hissed, gently tapping her face to try and rouse her. "Anara, come on, stay with me, my queen..." He whispered, pressing his fingers to the artery in her neck while he felt for a sign of life. The pounding of blood through her veins had ceased. "No!" Pitch shouted, pulling Anara closer to his chest and sobbing. A single line of water dripped down his check. "What is this? I do not cry." Pitch mumbled, seeing his own tears falling onto Anara's skin. "But you are." A deep voice rumbled above him. The Man in the Moon, hiding somewhere behind the stormy clouds above. "I didn't mean to," Jack finally started, breaking the harrowing silence.

Pitch raised his hand, getting ready to blast Jack with some nightmare sand, but something made him pause. She wouldn't want this... He thought, curling his fingers into a fist and sighing. He could hear the harsh whinny of his Nightmares coming closer, sensing his fear. He shook his head at the creatures. "Pitch?" He heard Jack's voice, quiet and constricted as if he was about to cry. The Nightmare King growled, feeling both fury and despair radiating throughout his very core. But instead of turning his hatred into an all out war as he used to do, he wrapped both of his arms around the cooling body of his lover, pulling her ever closer. He gathered Anara into his embrace, placing her head against his shoulder and petting her hair gently. With his heart throbbing painfully, he snapped two of his long fingers together. Smoke and ebony sand swirled around the couple, and moments later, the Boogeyman and the girl were gone.

The Nightmare King had taken Anara home, appearing in the center of her living room. With her mother gone for the weekend, he had time to figure things out. Still gazing at the deceased girl, he carried her up the staircase and into her room. The tall man glanced around the pale topaz walls, their color dark in comparison to Anara's pale skin. He swallowed thickly, stepping forward to place the girl on her soft bed. Her lips were slowly losing their shade, the dark crimson dulling into a baby pink. Her milky white skin began to develop an ashy hue, ironic when he realized that this would be the one time where their flesh looked so similar.

Safely away from the skeptical and judgemental eyes of his enemies, the Boogeyman began to sob uncontrollably. It was strange to see a being so dark and deceptive, someone that used to be utterly devilish, with tears streaming down his face as he stared at his former lover. He anxiously ran his fingers along her body, trying to memorize every little detail. The way her lips curved into a pout at the front, how her small hands, though limp and lifeless, looked so elegant when placed over her abdomen. Her dark hair looked like a pool of ink spilling across her pillow. Even in death, the young woman possessed a mystical beauty. A girl fit to be his Nightmare Queen. He loved once, and had lost his wife so long ago. His daughter did not want to speak to him, and hadn't. And this girl, the last person he was able to bring himself to love, was gone as well. She had changed him, reminded him of the man he used to be. She had helped him learn to be a better person. He wanted to be good, for her, to make her proud.

Now she was dead, and he knew inevitably he would spiral into his old ways. The human life in comparison to his was but a fleeting moment, yet somehow this one woman had managed to convince him otherwise. Pitch grated his teeth, fists clenched as he strode around the room. Part of him wanted to die, though he knew it wasn't possible. Another part of him was filled with devastating sadness. And the last part of his soul was encased with complete grief induced rage. A surge of power erupted from his hands, something beyond his control, and the window completely shattered, while most of the furniture in the room shook and slammed against the walls or fell over.

Hours must've passed, the sun slowly setting in the distance, darkening the bedroom. Pitch had finally sat on the bed, unable to part from his beloved. Anar's pets slowly made their way into the room, investigating what was happening. They sniffed and prodded Anara with their paws and furry noses, trying to awaken her from eternal slumber. Eventually, another spiritual presence entered the room. A hulking figure filled the open doorway, tall with broad shoulders, with the scent of candy canes and pinecones lingering on his red cloak. Pitch didn't even look up. The Nightmare King was defeated. Everything he had ever cared about was gone. What more did he have to lose?

What would the leader of the Guardians want now, except to gloat perhaps. Of course not, North would never be so heartless to say or do something that cruel, even to his greatest enemy. "Kozmotis?" The russian accent was gentle in his approach. The word caught Pitch's ear, causing him to glance up at surprisingly kind eyes. He cleared his throat, golden-silver irises flashing in both appreciation and annoyance. "I haven't heard that name from another Guardian in years..." He snarked, lips curling into a painful smirk. Though he tried to hide it, his normally silky voice cracked, emotion breaking through his walls like a flood. North's gaze fell on the body beside the Nightmare King. "Whatever do you need North? Can't you see I'd like to be alone now?" Pitch growled.

North stepped into the room, cautiously getting closer to the other man. "I know this hurts, yes? You cared for the girl, that is clear to us now. They are understandable, your emotions right now. Just know...despite our differences and our past, we are all very sorry about your loss...especially Jack. You know as well as I do that she was his friend too." Pitch returned his gaze to the woman next to him. "But he killed her...I told her to stay away from you, all of you. You believed I was more of a danger of her than the lot of you, and yet, look how she died. Not at my hands, but his!" He growled, glaring at the Guardian of Wonder. North had a guilty gleam in his eyes. "We never should've tried to keep you apart, I am sorry, Kozmotis. Her death is our fault, not yours. We failed her." North murmured. "Yes, well, a lot of good sorry does right now..." Pitch wiped another tear away as he retorted sarcastically.

North moved nearer, placing a large hand on Pitch's narrow shoulder and looking into the Boogeyman's eyes. "Come, we wish to help you honor her. Is there somewhere special you would like for her to rest?" Pitch completely detested the idea of burying Anara, but he knew in his heart that it was the right thing to do. It would be the one right thing he had done in a very long time. He swallowed, sighed, and released a breath. "Yes. I know just the place." He answered. The two enemies exchanged a long stare, then Pitch got to his feet and brushed off his cloak.

By the time that Pitch had taken Anara where he knew she would want to rest, the moon was glowing a bright white, as if it was illuminating the night just for this moment. Pitch had used his sand to change Anara into a dark onyx dress and matching heels. Smokey makeup covered her face, bringing a sense of life back to the girl. An unspoken truce formed between the Nightmare King and the Guardians as Pitch carried Anara around the body of water shimmering in front of the Eiffel tower, heading to a patch of trees that surrounded the monument. They towered into the air, the trunks thick and long, standing proud against the dark sky. But the French monument still dwarfed the plants.

Bunnymund quickly got to work, digging out a hole in the earth. Jack crafted a coffin of ice, crystalline and impossible to melt. She would be immortalized under it's magic protection. Pitch had sat down, unbothered by the fact that he was literally holding a dead girl in his arms. He wasn't ready to let her go, but he knew he would have to. Minutes later, Toothiana approached with tears dotting her magenta eyes. "It's-it's time, Pitch..." She whispered cautiously. "Not yet, just give me a few more minutes...please..." His tone matched her own. The fairy sniffled and fluttered backward. Sandman walked over, nodding at Pitch in respect before turning back toward the other Guardians.

Pitch waited for a few, before getting up once again, lifting Anara carefully and striding over to lower her into the casket. "You have my heart, my darling. Forever." He murmured, brushing his fingertips over her cold cheek. "I love you, Anara, my Nightmare Queen...I will never forget you..." He vowed, placing one final kiss on her freezing lips.

With a deep breath, he pulled away, leaving a hand on the edge of the casket to lean on it for support. He closed his eyes, listening to the silence of the night and trying to calm his aching heart. It felt as though he had stabbed himself with his scythe, slicing his heart in two. The Guardians lowered their heads in grief, following Pitch's lead. "She deserved better than this. Than all of us. This was not how she was meant to die. She was supposed to live, to have a long, magnificent life. But she didn't get the chance..." He managed, shaking his head. He sighed again, tapping his fingers on the ice.

Anara POV

It was surprisingly dim when I opened my eyes. Rather than a plain room of bright white, I found myself sitting on a pale couch in a room that greatly resembled my living room at home. Home...it felt so far away. Was I dead? Is this what Heaven or Hell truly looked like? Maybe it is purgatory. I wondered, feeling a deep sadness sweeping through my body as I realized I must be dead, otherwise I would still have a shard of ice jutting out of my body.

Sitting upward, I found myself face to face with an unfamiliar man. He was small in stature, mostly bald with a small golden curly-q of hair atop his head. He was wearing a pale yellow suit with a pocket watch attached to the front of his vest. "W-who are you?" I finally found it within myself to speak, my voice hoarse and gravelly. "Good evening, child. My name is Tsar Lunar, although...you may know me as the Man in the Moon. You may call me Manny if you wish." The small man introduced himself, offering his hand out to me as he approached. A sense of awe and familiarity washed throughout my soul. I could not believe that this man was the famous Man in the Moon. The being responsible for the selection and creation of all the Guardians of Childhood.

I accepted his hand, feeling his soft fingers gently wrap around my own. "I'm Anara Rose...I-is this the afterlife, Mister Manny?" I couldn't resist asking the question. Manny chuckled light-heartedly, his eyes flitting around the room with humor. "Well...in a manner of speaking...you are in my home. But you are not quite dead, if that is what you are worried about." He answered reassuringly.

His paradoxical statement took me off guard. My expression must've shown how confused I was by the contradiction, as Manny gave a hearty laugh. "I see I have scrambled your brain a tad, hmmm? No matter, all shall be clear. But I do not wish to keep you for more time than needed. Can you guess why you are here?" The Man in the Moon asked, checking his golden pocket watch absentmindedly. I shook my head, not understanding why I was in this purgatory-like state, in the home of the Man in the Moon. Only one thought seemed reasonable. "Perhaps you are angry with me, for being romantically involved with Pitch Black..." I whispered softly, awaiting a wave of fury to come from the man. "Oh no child, don't ever think I could be upset with you over something that was fated to happen from the beginning of time! I have been waiting and watching for ages, hopeful that the infamous Boogeyman would finally find the reason for his existence and for someone to step into his life with the power to remind him what is right and wrong. Even after what the fearlings had done to him, I still considered him a Guardian, the Guardian of Fear, specifically. Unfortunately, he performed his duties as a way to battle or unnerve the other Guardians, and the other Guardians responded to the threat he was becoming. Sadly, they have always feared Kozmotis too much, inadvertently snuffing out his light of existence as well. They do not understand how important they each are to the development of the children all around the world, even Kozmotis." Tsar Lunar explained to me.

I cocked my head at him, surprised that we shared a similar opinion on this topic. Pitch had often gone too far to prove his point, but it was only because the other Guardians did their best to diffuse children's belief in the Boogeyman. "I understand that, Mister Manny, I saw the effects of the distrust with my own eyes. But...what does all of this have to do with me? I still don't quite understand why I am here." I pointed out. The Man in the Moon lifted my hands within his own and patted them gently, almost like a grandfather would do. "I am thrilled that you asked, my dear. You see, I need someone back on Earth to remind the Guardians, all of them, of the importance of balance within the universe. Balance between the sun and moon, the light and the dark, yin and yang if you prefer. Though I have reached out many times, I fear North and the others have misinterpreted my messages. As I mentioned before, from the day the stars were formed, it was fated that you would end up here, at this very moment, for an extremely significant reason. But before I tell you what that is, I must know something." He gazed at me thoughtfully. "Yes, Manny?" I whispered, anxiety welling up within my chest. "Do you truly love Kozmotis Pitchiner?" He asked. The question took me off guard, although I needed no moment to pause before replying. "More than anything. He means the world to me. My only regret was leaving him so soon, especially since I promised that nothing would tear us apart." I sighed sadly, casting my eyes down toward my toes.

The Man in the Moon cleared his throat, refocusing my attention on him. "Just as I hoped. You are the one, dear Anara. The one meant to bring balance to the two sides of this coin we call Guardianship. You are meant to be the Guardian of Love. You shall teach tolerance and encourage acceptance, with the powers I bestow upon you to do so. Love is something beautiful and dangerous, a feeling that teaches children powerful lessons all throughout their lives. If you choose to accept, you will return home, alive once more and healed, and take on the responsibility of being a Guardian of Childhood. You will be immortal, from this day forward..." He trailed off. My mind whirled with new questions, but the most important one was the first that was voiced. "What about Pitch? What happens to him, and our relationship? Will it be forbidden for us to love one another still? And what of my mother?" I whispered. The fear that I may never spend time with either of them again was physically painful as I spoke.

Tsar Lunar shook his head with another gentle smile, "Why, child, I thought that part was obvious. You and Kozmotis Pitchiner are bound to one another, forever. Your new life shall not sever that link, and the two of you shall come together in a union that spirits will forever celebrate. You belong together, just as you have always known. Why do you think your dot shines so brightly on Pitch's globe, when all the others were dull in comparison? You are soulmates!" Manny finished, winking at me. "As for your mother, she will know nothing of this unless you tell her. For her, you will appear normal and human, until she opens her mind to her inner childhood once more." "But...Jack...his family..." I knew the story of Jack's lost family and didn't understand what made me different from him or the others. "As heartbreaking as it is, Jack's ordeal was destined to happen as well. None of us could change it. One day he will see them again, but he must not know that now. I trust you will keep my secret?" He asked. I breathed out in relief, nodding. "Of course," I would get to see all my loved ones again, but especially Pitch. And I was going to be a Guardian. "And in that case, I accept your offer. I will gladly become the Guardian of Love." I answered the smaller man. He smiled once more at me, reaching up to stroke my cheek in a fatherly way. "Well then, best not to keep the children waiting. Good luck, Anara. I shall speak to you again soon." And with his last word, my vision dimmed and I was out for the count once again.

Pitch POV

Pitch continued to stand beside the ice casket, mourning Anara's death. Suddenly, the Nightmare King heard gasps come from the group of people in front of him. His eyes flashed toward it, attention falling on Toothiana. "What now?" Pitch snapped. The teal woman pointed upward, behind the Boogeyman. He turned around, jaw falling as his own gaze was captured by the new appearance. The moon was shining brighter than before, so much so that a ring of white light was forming and shimmering through the trees. It led directly to the ice beside Pitch, and he looked down to see the silver glow cast itself onto Anara.

A red light emanated from the girl, sections of her hair turning scarlet and bubblegum pink. An intricate tattoo crawled around Anara's wrist and down her back, depicting various symbols of love. A small patch of crimson roses grew up through the grass around the couple. Pitch stared on in wonder as he watched the events unfold. The wound in Anara's chest mended itself and disappeared as though it was never there. A familiar, gentle voice hit his ears, capturing his attention once more. "Pitch...?" Anara whispered, eyes snapping open as her fingers wrapped around his wrist. Her blue eyes now joined with a ring of light pink, creating the same double-hued effect that Pitch's gold and silver eyes held. Pitch guffawed, unable to speak as he instinctively reached forward and snaked his arms under the girl's back and legs, pulling her back out of the casket. She let him do so, a brilliant smile gracing her features as color flooded back into her skin, blood flowing throughout her body and warming it. Pitch carefully placed her onto her feet, still in shock. "Anara? Are you....alive? Truly? Or has Sandy given me dream sand?" He began hesitantly. "I've never been more alive than I am now. You're not dreaming." She answered with a bright grin.

The Guardians were just as amazed. None of them had witnessed someone come back from the dead. It was nearly impossible, except... "What is happening?" Jack asked. "The Man in the Moon made her a Guardian..." Pitch whispered, still having a hard time breathing as he looked into her eyes. "Guardian of what?" Bunny furrowed his brow. Anara smirked, turning to the pooka while she held out her palm, creating a smoke cloud in the shape of a pink heart. "Love." North answered for her, eyes as big and round as royal dinner plates. "But why?" Sandy formed the question mark above his head. Anara's smile grew, reaching her eyes. "Because there must be a balance between us all. Love keeps the balance between hope and light," She gestured to the Guardians first. "And fear and darkness." She added as she took Pitch's hand, twining their fingers together.