Chapter 36

Days had passed and they were slow and painful for Grace's family and friends, including Lizzy. Grace's body was brought to Blackpool where she was to be buried in a private cemetery.

As for the drunk driver who killed Grace, he was charged and found guilty for driving under the influence and involuntarily manslaughter. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison and was fined £5,000 and he was forced to pay another £2,000 for Grace's funeral and burial.

At the church where the funeral was being held, Pitch watched from the rafters as Grace's casket was displayed. She wore a sun yellow dress and her red hair covered the pillow, she looked as if she was a sun goddess.

Tears were shed as the priest carried out the ritual. Then the casket closed and the casket carriers took it outside. It was a rainy day and the sky seemed to be mourning as it was gray with gloom.

Grace's casket was lowered down into a hole that had been dug. Pitch watched as the cemetery caretakers filled up the hole with dirt and a grave plate was placed over.

When everyone was gone, Pitch went up to Grace's grave and looked at the plate.

It read: GRACE ANNE DAWSON

BELOVED DAUGHTER

NOVEMBER 10th 1995-OCTOBER 31st 2014

Pitch traced his fingers over the words and he did it over and over. He refused to leave the grave, even when it got dark.

A cold wind blew in and Pitch knew that Jack Frost had to be around somewhere.

"Pitch?" the winter spirit asked and the boogeyman lifted his head up to face Jack. "How are you feeling?" Jack asked, again.

"Terrible," Pitch answered.

"Pitch, I know how difficult this has been for you, but I think you'll be very surprised in a few minutes," Jack said.

"Why is that? This better not be a joke," Pitch replied, very bitterly.

"Just come with me to the guardians' court, then you will see," the winter spirit said and a strong wind picked Jack up and he headed for the moon.

Pitch looked down at Grace's grave one more time and kissed the plate. He then got on Erebos and they headed up towards the moon.

Erebos landed beside the guardians' court building on the moon and Pitch went inside where the other guardians and holiday figures were waiting for their master to appear.

"What is going on?" Pitch asked Bunnymund.

"I have no idea mate," the Easter Bunny replied and everyone hushed as the Man in the Moon appeared.

"Pitch Black, please step forward," he ordered and Pitch obeyed. "I have been watching you for the passed few days. I am deeply sorry for your loss," the god added and Pitch nodded.

"However, you will not mourn any longer, for I have chosen a new guardian," the Man in the Moon said and everyone exchanged whispers. Pitch, on the other hand was confused when he heard this.

The god motioned his hands at the door and they opened. A bright light illuminated the room for a brief moment and it faded to reveal a beautiful woman with red-gold hair, hazel green eyes, and peach colored skin. She wore a glittering crown and a white dress that had golden star bursts on it.

"Grace!" Pitch exclaimed when he saw her. They ran up to each other, but Pitch stopped and stared at her. He placed his hands around her cheeks, they were very warm and tears flooded his eyes.

They shared a tight embrace and the court erupted into cheers. Pitch looked at Grace, again and asks, "How...I mean, what kind of guardian are you?"

"I am the painter of the night sky," she said and revealed a golden paintbrush. "I now paint the stars into the blackness and they will shine the way for anyone who is lost in the dark."

"But you never painted before," Pitch replied.

"I know, but it would not hurt to try," Grace said. They embraced, again and then shared a kiss. The court erupted into cheers, again and so did their master, but he stopped and stood up.

Pitch and Grace look at their master as he says, "I know what you have been thinking Pitch and it would not be fair for you to suffer the pain of losing the girl you have grown to love. However, I must ask you, are you still willing to ask her the one question?"

Grace looked at Pitch with a surprised look and he took both her hands into his. "Grace, ever since we met, I knew that you would spread word to other children to believe in me. But you also told them to believe in the goodness in me. That is something I can't thank you enough with words. I have grown to love you after those years, but I believe it is not enough for me," Pitch said to her.

Grace placed a finger over his lips. "If you are asking me to marry you, then my answer is yes," she replied. They kissed, again and the Man in the Moon used his magic to transform the courtroom into a lavish chapel.

The other guardians watched as their master performed the ceremony for Pitch and Grace. When he finished, the two kissed one more time and they headed out to collect Erebos.

The Pegasus got excited when he saw Grace and she petted him. "I almost forgot," the Man in the Moon said and he pointed to the ground. A swirling mist appeared and when it disappeared, a white Pegasus with gold star bursts in its mane and tail was shown.

Grace stared at the creature and it tickled her with its lips. "This here is Asteria, she is your escort when you do your duty, Grace," the Man in the Moon said.

Erebos seemed interested in this new Pegasus and Pitch petted him. "You'll get your chance," he chuckled.

Both the guardians got on their Pegasuses and they flew down to Earth. The sun was setting in England and Grace began to paint the sky with bright stars.

"I have a feeling that the children will believe in you in no time," Pitch said to her.

Grace smiled and continued to paint the sky and Pitch began to release his nightmares. He and Grace led them in the right direction of where they needed to go.

True to Pitch's word, the children of the world began to believe in Grace's existence as the Painter of the Night Sky. They never felt alone in the dark and they learned from the nightmares they had to show respect to one another. It was all thanks to the boogeyman and his love, the Painter of the Night Sky, for those who truly believed.

THE END

I did it! Wow, what a story! What did you think? Please review!