Young Merida, only 6 years old, is filled with wonder and curiosity. Her parents announce to her that she is finally able to join the Celebration of Aster, or Easter Celebration, with all the other children her age. But the celebration is not what has her anxiously waiting for Easter. She learns about the legendary tale of E. Aster Bunnymund, the Bunny of Easter. Merida is now determined to see the legendary bunny with her own two eyes. She does everything in her will to just get a glimpse of the legend. But as Easter Sunday quickly approaches...she beings to lose her hope.

Chapter 1: First Easter

The bright morning sunlight shun into little Merida's room. She opened her eyes as the light reflected on her face. She yawned, stretching her small arms as far up to the ceiling as she could.

"Good morning to you too sun," She said in her little Scottish voice. She lay resting on her bed, hesitant to get up, but suddenly; she heard the hammering of wood. She bolted upward and went to her window.

Looking down, she saw some men putting together what looked like booths. Next to them were carpenters and feast planners. Not too far off were some women knitting what looked like various blankets. Barrels and buckets filled with decorations were being brought out to the palace courtyard where everything was taking place. Excitement grew in Merida's eyes as she realized what was going on.

"The Aster Celebration!" She screamed.

Hopping off the bed, she changed into her palace cloths and went about looking for her mother.

By the time she found her parents they were out in the courtyard attending to the feast planners, observing and commenting as the workers went along.

"Mummy! Mummy!" yelled Merida.

"Oh well good morning there lassie. Surprise to see you out at this time." Her mother exclaimed.

"Is it Easter? Are we preparing for the Aster Celebration?" Excitement filled Merida's voice. Her mother smiled and her father let out a great big laugh.

"Why of course! Why else would we be getting so excited for this time of year!" said Fergus.

"Dear, did you send the invitation to the other clans?" asked Elinor.

Fergus let out a great big sigh. "That I did my dear. But, like every year, THEY DENY! Shoot it back in my face!" yelled Fergus.

"Well we'll have to do something about that in the future," said Elinor. She looked down at Merida. Her daughter was gazing all around her in excitement as she was seeing the decorations being prepared. "Oh Fergus, you think we should tell her right now?" asked Elinor.

That caught Merida's attention. "Tell me what mummy?" Her eyes were beaming at Queen Elinor.

"My little girl, we were waiting to tell you at dinner! But you're hear now, so...WHY NOT!" King Fergus said. He scooped up Merida and spun her in the air. "This year you are able to be part of the Aster Celebration!"

Merida laughed and giggled, and laughed and giggled. She remembered seeing the children go off with baskets, hunting for eggs; she remembered the laughing and music she could hear through the palace walls. Being too young to fully understand the celebration, Merida had to stay inside the palace with one of the maids who would volunteer to care for her while the celebration was happening. But now at the age of 6, Merida was a sharp young girl, sharper than any of the kids her age.

"Yes! Yes! YES! Oh I am so excited! Can I walk with you to see how it is all prepared? Please, please, please, pleeeeease!" Merida begged.

"Why of course! A princess must have knowledge of the Aster Celebration for when she has the kingdom to rule on her own!" proclaimed Fergus.

"Alright darling. Come along now." Elinor took Merida's hand and began walking behind her husband down the courtyard.

"Hello young princess, fancy you'll finally be joining us this year."

This was the greeting little Merida got from all the workers and villagers that were there that morning. Merida could only smile and dance with joy in response. As she ventured down the courtyard with her parents, she kept noticing a repeating pattern of images... a bunny. She saw carpenters making bunny toys to give to children the day of the feast and center pieces to put on the tables they were to dine on. She saw the baskets being weaved together, each having small images of bunnies imprinted on them. Painters were painting rabbits on various objects. Costumes were being put together resembling bunny faces, hats were being made to represent bunny ears. Just then, Merida noticed that the blankets she saw earlier were not blankets, but various flags being knitted. In the center was the image of a bunny. But this image seemed different than the rest.

"Mum, why are there so many images of bunnies?" Merida asked.

Elinor smiled, knowing she had to explain to her when the day came.

"Those images represent the Bunny of Easter darling." Explained Elinor.

"The Bunny of Easter?" Merida asked. Her face was begging for more.

"E. Aster Bunnymund is what we call him. He brings spring throughout the lands. He grows the flowers we see, the green grass we run on, the trees that we climb. He brings the eggs for the children to hunt. He brings us hope and new beginnings," explained Elinor.

Merida took in the information and processed it all in her mind. She bent down to pluck a flower. No wonder! She always questioned how the flowers and green grass would absent one night then present the next morning. She created the image of a small bunny hoping across the land. With every hop grass and flowers grew. She imagined him wiggling his little nose and twitching his little ears. But then she wondered...

"How could such a wee-little bunny do so much? For a little being, it seems like a great celebration...Doesn't he get tired? Doesn't he get sad cause can't celebrate like the rest of us? Oh no! What if wolves and bears try to get him!" Merida's reaction changed from wonderment to sadness and terror.

Elinor let out a small laugh.

"Oh my dear, he's not just a small little bunny." Reaching over, Elinor took a small flag, a flag one of the women had knitted. She unfolded it to reveal to Merida an image of the bunny. This was the image that had caught Merida's eye. It was the image that was different from the rest. The image was of a creature, the bunny. He was tall, standing upright on his two legs. He did not look cute like she imagined, but epic. He was posed as if he was ready to strike; he had two weapons in his paws. He was grey, his eyes green. And that was all. It looked like one of the images painted within the ancient caves, yet it was beautiful. Merida took the flag gently from her mother's hands, her mouth open in amazement.

"This is him...He looks like he's protecting something," said Merida.

"He is. He's a Warrior, a Guardian of Hope, and a Guardian of children..." said Elinor. Her voice sounding so gentle.

"A warrior...a guardian...is he watching me right now? Is this how he looks like?" said Merida. Her voice was low and filled with wonder again.

"This...this is how he is believed to look like. But we don't know for certain; he has only been seen once by our clan." Elinor said.

"Only once! So...he is real...if someone saw him. When will he come back? Will he be here in Easter? How can I see him mummy!" said Merida. Her excitement was uncontrollable now. She had a spark of hope in her eyes.

"Oh my dear, it is not so simple." Elinor explained.

"It's not..." Merida said in disappointment. "Is he still alive mummy? Will...will I ever get a chance to see him?"

"He is still alive today because of children like you my dear. If they keep believing, he continues to exist. The day he was last seen was a day of terror...but, within the children...there was still hope. Their little imaginations struck up hope that a mighty warrior would come take away that terror. And he did." Elinor pointed at the image on the flag. "That is when the human eye first saw him...he came to protect the children and their families. My little Merida, if you believe and hope with all your heart, I know you will see him. You know why? Because you are a special little girl." Elinor kissed Merida's forehead. "Don't lose hope...he may just come yet." She smiled.

"My dear are you telling her that story of the wee-bunny? If a bunny like that EVER existed we'd have to hunt him and make us some delicious hare soup!" Fergus rubbed his stomach and licked his lips. Merida gasped at the comment her father made and looked at her mother.

"He's just playing my dear. No one will ever touch him or harm him." said Elinor.

"Ya, because he don't exist," added Fergus. "Come! We have more duties to attend too!" With that, Fergus made his way to the castle entrance.

"He can hear you!" yelled Merida as her father left. "Mum, you think he did? You think daddy hurt his feelings?"

"Oh my dear. Remember your father don't believe in a lot of stuff. With him, he has to see it to believe it. I think Bunnymund knows your fathers good intentions and holds nothing against him. But you, you believe in here," Elinor touched her daughters heart. "Trust me. He'll feel it." Elinor kissed Merida's forehead again and headed off to the castle entrance behind her husband.

Merida stayed where she was, smiling as her mother left. She looked down at the flag again and held it close to her heart, then stared into the sky. Her mind went back to when she saw the wisp in the forest. And from there it was decided...she will hunt for Aster, Aster Bunnymund. She had now till Easter. She just had to see him like those children did so many years ago... she had to. She closed her eyes still facing the sky.

"I do believe...please let me see him... Just once...please..." She whispered to the sky.