Rise of the Guardians

Guardian of Luck

Chapter One: Reincarnated

She dreamt, in vivid colors that spanned around like a touchable rainbow. It was beautiful, it was touching, and it was freaking her out.

"No Rainbow Bridge!" Faustine awoke screaming, her entire body coated in terrorized sweat. "No.." She patted her body hurriedly. "One piece, oh, thank the Maneki-Neko!"

There was a colliding thud as she was flattened into the bed. She struggled to breathe as she shoved fruitlessly at the six-foot bunny pinning her down. "E! E! I need air!"

He rolled off, watching her with a hard stare. "What happened? What's wrong?"

"I had a nightmare, that's all." Faustine responded tiredly. "Sort of like seeing the end of the road and feeling you're about to be pushed in."

He sighed heavily. "You're fine. You keep having that nightmare."

"I was at death's door and I saw… uh… whiteness… kind of blah, really boring, actually. You'd think the Rainbow Bridge would be a little more colorful."

"You were in limbo! There's a big difference!"

"Really?"

"Yes, that step between life and death, before you choose to go where you're supposed to go or directed to go, sometimes you don't get to choose."

"What did you pick?"

"I became the Easter Bunny. Think it's pretty clear what I picked." He sat up, running his paw through his hair. He scratched his scalp as he eyed her. "How're you feeling?" "Better," She started to inch to the edge of the cat bed. "And I want to see my children."

"You can't."

"Why not?! Did something happen!?"

He pulled her down, hushing her in her panic. "No, kit. I sent them to your parents for a while. Hitch needed some more rest and his grandfather knows how to treat wounds well. I sent the rest so Hitch wouldn't feel estranged."

"But what about me?" Faustine's grew huge.

"I'm taking care of you."

Her stomach grumbled.

"I always forget about this," Bunny muttered as he used both hands to rub at his head again, irritated. "Nuts. I have to go get you something to eat."

"I can do it!"

She managed to get out before she squawked as he scruffed her and dragged her back into the bed.

"E, I can hunt in the Warren. Come on, let go of me!" She tore out of his grasp and fell out of the bed onto her side.

"You know, I think I'd heal faster if you didn't worry me so much! I'm fine! I'm in one piece and I can do things still! I'm not an invalid!"

She glared at him as his ears went back. He shuffled and then disappeared into the blankets. She pushed herself to rest on her front, arms crossed as she tried to think. She gave in to what Bunny wanted and climbed back into the bed, delving under the blankets to find him curled tightly.

"E, I'm fine."

"I know that," He spoke with a catch in his voice. "I know that! It's.. I just…" Bunny's voice trailed off.

She pushed over him, the blanket falling away as she eyed him. She took an ear and nibbled on it, nipping and pulling on it before she began to really tug.

She crawled over him pointedly and held onto his ear for dear life, tugging and nipping as she growled ferociously. She rocked her head back and forth, trying to get Bunny to 'play'.

"Come on, E! You're letting me win!"

She glowered and let go of his ear in frustration. "What's it going to take to show you I'm fine!?"

"I know you're…"

"If you truly did, you wouldn't be broken!"

She climbed onto him pointedly, still on his side. She began to knead pointedly, using the full extent of her claws as she purred loudly.

Her eyes were slits as she stared him down. He was watching from the side profile, wincing with each prick until he rolled over and she was tossed onto her back. He then properly pinned her as she stared him down still, fire in her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I haven't gotten over the shock of seeing you die."

"I don't expect you to. I wouldn't if I'd lost you. But you need to realize that I'm here and I'm fine and I'm breathing! Sure, I get nightmares but then I wake up to happiness and laughter and hope… which you seem to be struggling with." She added pointedly.

"I'm.."

"And Easter is soon, too, so -somebody- needs to get his game!"

"Get my game?"

"Dude, be up on the lingo!"

"That's not it at all!"

"Don't be such a pill!"

"Stop spouting phrases!"

She grinned as she leaned toward him. "You're so cute when you're angry."

"I'll show you angry," He rolled to into a sitting position as he held her in his arms.

Her stomach grumbled once more.

"Fine. You can hunt."

He grinned as in the next five seconds was just a fragment of her form as she disappeared from sight. He could hear the distant but familiar crunches as she hunted with gusto.

"I need to patch up those mouse holes," He muttered to himself.

She was resting in the sun, on one of her favorite rocks as she sunbathed. Bunny worked nearby as he was finishing the paints and harvest the eggs. Christmas had yet to come and he still had a few months more of work. He picked up a painting brush and did thoughtful strokes on an egg, coating it in soft, pastel hues.

He nearly dropped the egg when Faustine's screams echoed. "What's wrong?"

Once more, she was pinned as she flushed in embarrassment. "I'm sorry. The nightmares won't leave me be. I keep having the same one every time I fall asleep!"

He jumped down from the rock as he helped her down. "Maybe Sandy can help. You've been sleepless for the last four days."

"Yea!" She tore out of his arms. "A trip out of the warren!" She made a portal and disappeared as he followed with a panic.

They landed in a strange place, made of glimmering sand where the skies were night and full of foreign stars.

"WOW."

Bunny hadn't gone to Sandy's island much but he was always taken away by its beautiful décor. "It's breathtaking, huh?"

Faustine was delighted as she pranced around in the sands.

"Uh, wait, Faustine, before you get too exuberant…" Bunny began.

Faustine sneezed and then crashed into a sleep.

"Whoops."

The Sandman landed a few feet away and toed Faustine. He looked to Bunny who shrugged.

"Kit was having nightmares and getting poor sleep. I thought we'd come by for some advice or any tricks and or tips you might have."

Sandy held up a hand and formed a small sandbag. He offered it to Bunny.

"Sprinkle and then wish for good dreams?" Bunny asked.

Sandy gave a double thumbs up. He then pointed to Faustine.

"Can you wake her up?" Bunny asked hopefully. "I'm sure she'd like to see your island."

Sandy floated over Faustine and tugged on an ear, pushing aside the little baby bunnies hopping around her head.

"Go way…" She muttered softly.

Sandy pinched her then as the bunnies scurried away. Sandy glanced at Bunny who looked embarrassed as he forced a smile.

"Yea, she's sort of obsessed about bunnies."

Sandy smirked and a basket of eggs formed over his head.

"Yes, yes, she's a basket case! But I wouldn't have her any other way."

Sandy then studied Faustine before turning her over and then he held her nose pointedly.

"Mate, what're.."

"Can't… breath…" She awoke with surprise. "That was the best dream I had ever had!"

She then looked around. "Hey, it wasn't a dream! This really is a litter box!"

Sandy hurriedly summoned a pit of sand to freeze Faustine in her place. His arms moved angrily as he gestured at her.

"What?" She asked crossly.

He pointed to his head, a litter box shape crossed out as he made an x with his arms, glaring fiercely at her.

"Fine. I won't use your precious sand box."

He made the shape of his island, still glaring.

"Island, whatever!" She flounced around, sniffing furiously.

"Don't inhale! You passed out once already, I won't let Sandy wake you up again!"

"All right, all right!" She looked up the stars. "They're so beautiful." She fell into a kneeling position, watching the moon with delight. "The stars are dancing here!"

Bunny sighed and plugged his ears. "Sorry about this, Sandy."

Her yowls echoed around the island as Sandy watched with surprise. He winced when she reached a high note but clapped when she was finished.

"Awww! That's so sweet!" Sandy was engulfed in arms. "E hates it when I sing."

Sandy gave an awkward smile as she held onto him. He tapped her arm after a long moment.

"Oh, fine."

"Thanks for the sand, Sandy."

"Wait, since we're here! I wanted to talk about being a Guardian. I've effectively been reincarnated and lost all of my nine lives.."

Sandy looked confused.

"Well, the Maneki-Neko have what's rumored as nine reincarnations, our soul is given to the next life until we reach the end. Then we have reached our maximum luck and we are given a status in the Heavens to be used as a wishing star… or planet… really, whatever people see flying in the Heavens so it could even be a manmade satellite."

Sandy still looked confused.

"It's just something we made up. I'm not sure it's real," She added as she patted his head. "But back to the topic!"

Pictures flew over his head as she watched helplessly.

"I need a translator," She told Bunny as Sandy resumed glaring at her. "What? You talk too fast!"

"You could always ask me," Bunny said from behind.

"You're not the oldest! He's the ancient one!"

Sandy's hands wrung through his hair in obvious irritation. He stamped his foot and stared pointedly at Bunny.

"Yea, see, I'm used to her when she talks."

She glared at him. "So, what's the deal of being a Guardian?"

Sandy pointed a finger as he made a Santa's hat.

"What about North?"

He showed a book and then fireworks.

"You need to take an oath and North really likes to sell it."

"But that's for kids! I'm only for you!" Faustine protested.

Sandy eyed Bunny.

"Technically, it's true. Though now as a Guardian of Luck, your powers have to include the world and its inhabitants. You probably should still take the oath. It'll make North really happy."

"I don't care about his happiness, only yours! And the kids. And mostly mine."

Bunny rolled his eyes as she scratched an ear, still kneeling. She started to clean her knee with intent.

"You can't dawdle now," Bunny told her softly. "You need to learn what you can do and can't do."

"I already know that. Being a Guardian of Luck doesn't change anything!"

"But you don't understand, kit. Your reach is more than what you've been doing."

Faustine thought on it. "Really?" She perked up. "I can rub it in all of my sisters' faces!"

"No, Faustine, that's not…"

"I'm going to go get the kids and then rub my new title at my family!"

"That's not how it works!' Bunny shouted as she disappeared.

Sandy gave him a reassuring smile.

"Yea, yea, I know." He waved to the Sandman. "Sleep tight."