Disclaimer: I wish I was a Guardian...or could talk with one, but no, I own nothing but this plot line and a couple characters...

Summary: Rabbits are quick, agile, hardy, and can be very temperamental. Getting them to hold still is just about impossible, tell that to Bunnymund when it comes to a matter of life or death.


Chapter Three

Eve

xxx 12/31/2012

North happily led Jack and Bunny down to the stables right around four am, this time only four reindeer were harnessed to a much smaller sleigh, A red duffel was obviously North's, and a brown leather bag must have been Bunny's as once North helped him in, the Pooka tucked his boomerangs into the satchel. A dark blue backpack also sat in the wooden sleigh, and Jack was a bit lost.

"Jack...yetis make you formal cloak and clothes for festival, all dress up so you too, no?"

The teen opened the bag as North lightly flapped the reins, these four reindeer were calmer that the main team, and moved quickly yet quietly through the tunnel to take off into the air to Iceland. Jack found a thick velvet cloak, the fabric a dark blue with a silver sheen to it. The rest was a formal tunic, loose dark silver pants, a warm white under shirt and a dark blue jerkin with silver snowflake patterned gems. A silver belt went with the ensemble and was currently wrapped around a pir of soft leather boots.

"Dvergar's halls are known fer bein' rough, some a' the floors are bad enough ta tear up the toughest feet, even I have ta wrap mine wi' leather."

Jack nodded at Bunny's explanation, packing the clothes back in and zipping the bag shut. North handed a basket back to them from his seat, the container held hot chocolate and warm breads, plus a few pieces of carrot cake. There were also two heavy blankets, both Guardians wrapped up in them and settled onto the solid floor of the sleigh to sleep for the next few hours, travelers weren't allowed to use magic to reach the festival unless it was because they flew. No snow globes this time.

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As the sleigh touched down, several Dvergar's rushed forward, unharnessing the reindeer and beginning to care for them with tender passion. Another two uttered commands to North in their native tongue, gesturing for the Guardians to follow them. The Palace was half set in a mountain, the expansive abode carved from rock and hewn with centuries of craftsmanship, the halls they were led through were floored with rich hardwoods, rugs at every door to wipe feet thoroughly before you continued.

Ancient tapestries covered the walls, each unique and special, some were of legendary figures, others were part of a series that told a story. Jack would have loved to stay and look over each one, but Bunny was wincing with every limping step and needed to get somewhere to rest, if Jack got lost it would be almost impossible to find his way.

The two Dvergar led them to what Jack figured was a wing of guest rooms, this one hall was as long as a human football field, only half as wide, there were only ten doors, five on each side, yet one at the very end. Eleven suites in each hall, eleven hallways equals eleven floors in each wing...

Guess how many wings?

Nope, only four guest wings, the rest of the place was the libraries, entertainment, ball room, and kitchens.

North's key opened the suite at the end on the left side of the hall, Bunny's opened the very end, as did Jack's. Once they entered they knew why.

A stream that flowed from one wall to the other across the room separated a spring like room from an iced over cabin one on the other side. Bunny immediately set his bag down on a wooden chair before easing onto his bed, sighing as he relaxed against the soft covers. Jack floated across the stream to his side, setting his backpack on the trunk at the foot of his canopy bed and leaning his staff on a post with pegs positioned just right to hold it. His bed was covered with a thick quilt that should make one feel toasty warm, only to Jack it was just right.

North entered through a side door, to the left and right of the hall door there was a smaller private one, leading to the adjacent room.

"Tooth is in next room across hall, she is arriving in an hour, Sandy on other side of her room."

Bunny grunted slightly to say he heard, but otherwise remained on the bed as still as he could, he must have really been hurting. North settled himself into is room, leaving the connecting door open while he went ahead and took a nap. Tooth and Sandy arrived later, both greeting the others before Tooth retired for a quick nap as well. Sandy and Jack contented themselves to wandering the halls by floating by the ceiling out of everyone else's way.

All four guest wings, the multiple arrival halls, the corridor to the multi floor library, and the huge doors to the ball rooms all joined in this massive and ornately decorated main hall, towering pillars and delicately twirled staircases flowed around three of the four sides of the square, the final side was a huge rock carving with an image of each legendary figure at their finest.

Sandy pulled Jack to the carving, starting at the center where a compass was carved. Four points ended in easily recognized symbols and their figures. A tooth for Toothiana, a dream cloud for Sandy, an egg with a flower for Bunny, and an elf for North. A separate point was covered and the sound of carving echoed in the hall faintly over the noise from below.

The two flew up to a support beam a third of the way up to the eleven story high ceiling, after four floors there was an interlacing of beams connecting the pillars and stairs, they sat on the cool stone and stared down at the arriving figures, all a variety of colors, shapes and types.

After a good hour, Jack saw Efthalia and a few other messenger pixies fly up to another beam, several other flying or floating figures had done the same, many were small and in close groups, underlings or assistants to larger figures down below. Sandy was content to merely watch the arrivals, but Jack was beginning to grow uncomfortable, out of the hundreds or maybe thousands of figures, he knew only a small handful. Four were the other guardians, the rest were minor acquaintances from the years of being alone.

The sandman shifted before gently taking Jack's hand, guiding him into the air and through the beams and staircases before returning to their hall. Now the rooms at the beginning were open and bustling with figures, a few were shut tight with "Do Not Disturb" plaques in several different languages on the knobs. The last three before the Guardians' were still empty.

Jack slipped into his room quietly, Bunny had shifted from lying flat to now sound asleep under the covers, propped up with a couple pillows. Tooth or North must have helped. The Pooka opened his eyes long enough to give Jack a quick nod before going back to sleep. The winter spirit went ahead and did the same, apparently there was a reason to sleep right now...

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As much as Phil the yeti hated having Jack around the workshop, he was really good at guessing sizes. Jack's tunic fit perfectly, but he went ahead and ignored the boots, he probably wouldn't be walking much.

Which was true, that evening everyone fussed to look nice before heading to the ballrooms. Or actually it was one massive room with numerous doors. Near the outer edge and in a circle at the center around a raised platform, there was a wide water way, currently full of fish, merpeople, selkies, and other creatures. North was dragged into a conversation with several other Russian figures as soon as he walked in the door, Sandman was pulled aside by a mute ghost like figure while Tooth darted off with her select few mini fairies to chat with the fluttering flock of fairies and pixies overhead.

Bunny led Jack through the flowing crowds to a back corner, crossing the waterway on one of the few bridges and settling against the wall on a thick couch, the Pooka merely sat silently, watching the figures move about and mingle, once in awhile he would nod to one or another as they waved to him, sometimes share a few words but otherwise stayed withdrawn. Jack was content to do the same, observing the start of the festival from a distance.

The mingling and mild chaos lasted only an hour, silencing when the non existent lights dimmed around to signal the guests to quiet and sit down, most took to the floor, but a few took the time to perch on the water walls with the water folk. Slightly brighter lights lit the platform where an old man with a long beard and hair in every shade possible stood, his long midnight blue robes shone gently in the light. A lady dressed in tropical flower petals looking of Asian descent stood with him, as did a dwarf who appeared to be the leader of the Dvergar, and a cloaked figure, the dark covering hiding everything.

No matter what language you spoke, you heard it when the old man began speaking.

"Welcome my brethren, I see many faces same and new, old and young, and cherish each. I am Amarandos Dowr Joran, most know me as Father Time..."

Many clapped for him, a few shouting greetings before he motioned for silence, "I am glad so many were able to make it, and while those who could not will be missed, it does mean there is more good food for us!"

That stoked a roaring cheer along with laughter, everyone was immortal so food wasn't a priority, yet it was amusing.

The lady spoke quickly in either Japanese or Thai Jack couldn't tell, Bunny didn't translate but is appeared she also welcomed everyone before cautioning guests to be aware of the figures who flew, currently above their heads but also at their level, emphasizing by unfurling her glass-wing butterfly wings, the appendages spanning several feet before she pulled them back in, one wrong move and the wings would be ruined forever.

"Dvergar Konungur wishes to speak for his people." The lady, Aiyana Nelani added after a moment.

"Velkomin naungi sjalfur bjo'saga, byo eg per heim til min og oska ykkur ollum vell...Leyfou okkur veislu!"

Bunny shifted a little, " He said "Welcome ones of legend, I invite you to my home and wish you all well...let us feast" basically he began the festivities and stuff."

Jack nodded, staying where he was as others began moving about, some to continue talking and others to the food that was quickly brought out.

North soon arrived with plates of food for his friends, joined by Tooth a few minutes later. Sandy still had yet to make an appearance.

No one seemed to notice as a pair of doors banged, someone must have come late.

The sheer scream of terror did get everyone's attention as the late comer rushed to the center platform.

Dvergar Konungur signaled for the lights to dim once more, many figures backing away and sitting so everyone could see the last.

The legendary was a young boy, black hair, green eyes, light tan skin and small robes in bright colors. He was Saya, the Philipine bringer of Joy, yet he was sobbing and looked scared to death.

"Ama Time! Sila ay bumalik! Ang mga lalaki ng kadiliman!"

Father Time helped the terrified boy to stand, letting him clutch his robes for support as Aiyana kneeled and kept her hands on his shoulders.

"Saya says the men of darkness have returned, this spirit is not one to lie, does anyone else hold truth to these words? Anyone?"

No one wanted to speak up, several were whispering to their neighbors.

"Men of Darkness?" Jack asked softly.

North turned his head a little, "Boogey men, but it is not possible..."

"Saya doesn't lie mate."

A hunter called from across the ballroom, "If this is so important, let the Guardians handle it! The dark men are gone, at least put the Guardians to use!"

North stood first, helping Bunny up before the four moved forward, "Vatch vat you say Teyman, Pitch Black was defeated by us nigh eight months ago, ve are put to use."

The hunter scoffed, "Sure he was, Pitch is the only boogey man out there, he's skulking in a hole weeping over his loss, yeah he threw a fuss this spring so what? Saya must have it wrong."

Saya glared heatedly, protesting loudly in the Filipino tongue he spoke in earlier.

"Quiet!"

Father Time motioned for Sandy, who had been keeping to the ceiling rafters, the dream master floated down and gently put Saya to sleep, showing through dream sand the boy's memory of the dark men.

First was of a small village, perfectly normal until a raging storm swept through and destroyed it, all that was left was a child that Saya was trying to save.

Until a black dressed man stepped forward, laughing and taunting Saya before killing the child. The man went on, saying he was a man of the dark and it was time for the shadows to resurface. Saya denied it and said that he would die protecting the joy of his islands, that others would join to stop him, even the Guardians.

The man laughed, taunting and mocking the guardians before pulling up an image of his own, a dream within a dream. This one was of a different village, small huts clustered together. The inhabitants were small bits of light before Saya's dream expanded the image, showing an old village being destroyed by several dark men.

"I am Cethin Achar...tell the others their time is up, bring me on worthy of a fight and needless bloodshed shall not occur, fail to do so...and many will die, and not just children."

Cethin was murdering the villagers...

A Pooka village.

Bunnymund screamed, lunging for the dream sand. North grabbed him as Sandy woke Saya up, the boy huddling to Aiyana nervously, the last Pooka was shaking in rage and grief, as were several others.

Father Time glanced around, "Anyone dispute this? Fine then, Guardians, I ask you to join Aiyana and I in the library, the rest of you may go about your frivolities since it appears obvious no one is willing to risk their necks for the world except for the Guardians. If anyone dares volunteer, be in the library by the end of the hour."

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No one came to join the five guardians, Father Time had some scrolls on the names of all the "boogey men" in the world, Aiyana had a few precious flowers. There wasn't much they could do...

North led the way back to his sleigh, Konungur had already had it prepared. Tooth was pouting slightly, but cheered up when there was a cloaked figure waiting for them at the sleigh.

"It can't be...you made it this year?"

The figure chuckled, "Oh yes I made it just fine..."

Bunny growled, trying to stand tall and failing, "Cethin."

"Good to see you Pooka, or should I say Last Pooka?"

The bunny growled, preparing to throw a boomerang when a flash of ice hit Cethin dead in the chest. The man glared at Jack, "Oh lovely a new one...sleep well Guardians, come mid January you'll need all the sleep you can get..."

Cethin disappeared, leaving the guardians stunned and angry.

North sighed heavily, "Let's go, I know just the place."

Jack helped Bunny into the sleigh, staying silent as Tooth fluttered a little, "North? Where are we going?"

"To see Phoenix."


Wow, wrote that in just an hour...

Review please?

Happy New Year!

Hurray to 2013!