Ch11: Memories + Wonder = Special Snowflakes?
"Let the flames begin!"
"That pun alone is a reason for you to lose." Jack shook his head in mock sadness and charged forward to attack the fire spirit knowing full well that he didn't stand a chance.
With a small gasp Tooth bolted up. Blinking the sleepiness away the queen looked around taking in her surroundings. She was in the globe room, North's red jacket wrapped over her like a blanket. She must have fallen asleep after Sandy's memorial.
"Nightmare?"
Tooth hadn't even noticed Bunny sitting on the floor besides her until the pooka spoke up. She flashed him a tired smile that didn't reach her eyes. "The whole situation feels like a nightmare." She sighed resting her chin on the large red coat that covered her small body. "And sometimes it feels like a dream come true. Sweet Tooth's back, but..."
"But at the same time he ain't." Bunny finished when the fairy paused.
Tooth nodded looking down at her knees again. "My god... 300 years Aster. How could I-"
"You didn't know sheila." Bunny interrupted his friend refusing to let her friend blame herself. Centuries ago he saved her from the adults who hunted her down for her wings, now he needed save her from herself. "You and North didn't know. Ya couldn't have known."
"Nicolas!" Tooth's voice was shrill as she pushed her husband's coat of her and flew up. "Nicolas must feel terrible! What if he blames himself? I've neglected him what if-"
"Toothiana!"
Bunny's cry put a halt to Tooth's jumbled rambling. "Nick's with the bloke right now. Jackie's alright, the kid blames himself for what happened to Sandy so North went to talk to him."
Once she had collected herself Tooth averted her gaze from the pooka again.
"Just hold on a little longer Tooth. I know it's hard, but don'tcha dare give up hope."
Looking at her friend Tooth bit her lower lip and nodded.
-ROTG-
No more dolphins, no more pirate ships and adventures on a far away dream islands. Jack sat on the window sill in the living room nearest to the globe room, hood up to hide his face, hide away from the world. No one could see his teary eyes or how the winter child every once in a while would bite his lower lip to keep sobs from escaping.
The song would be great right now... The song of which Jack still wasn't sure if it went na-na-na or na-naa-na. Hugging his knees a little tighter Jack rest his head on them and gazed outside the window. Sullenly he tapped the glass with his finger creating a frosty silhouette of Sandy.
"Are you alright?"
Jack didn't look away, his blue eyes still fixated on the image of Sandy he had just created. He didn't need to turn his head to know that it was North standing beside him. The Russian accent and booming voice(even when gentle) made it an easy guess.
For some reason being near North hurt too. Being around all the guardians hurt... Not hurt exactly, but it for some reason disturbed him, confused him and made his head hurt because Jack's so sure he's missing something.
Jack's always been sure that something is missing.
That something felt more and more apparent for the past day that he spent with the guardians. "I just," breathing out a sigh Jack stopped himself and changed his words. He wasn't going to lie to North, but he wasn't going to bring up that. "I wish I could have done something."
"Done something?" North repeated disbelief coating his words. "Moy mal'ch'ik, you stood up to Pitch. You saved us."
Turning his head Jack met the older man's eyes "But Sandy-" Jack stops when North put a hand on his shoulder, and the boy really tried to hide his flinch.
"Would be proud." North felt something in his chest snap at the emotions just above the surface in those sky colored eyes that once were so carefree. "We all are."
And for some reason that was more uplifting than it should have been. To Jack at least who can't stop a small smile forming on his blue tinted lips. The moment was ruined when they heard someone cry out.
Both instantly recognizing the cry belonging to Tooth were on their way to the globe room. When they got inside they easily spotted what caused the fairy to cry out.
The large rotating globe in the room, beautiful and magnificent showed lights going out at a dangerous fast speed.
Using his staff to push himself of the ground Jack flew up, above the globe he could see the lights going out even better. The globe, with less and less lights seemed so... So dark. "It's fear." Jack realized. "Pitch tipped the balance." He said turning back to North and Tooth who had drifted closer to each other, Tooth gripping North's arm.
There was no way around the tension in the room.
With Sandy gone, the nightmares taking over children's dreams everywhere and the lights going out it really seemed hopele-
"Hey, buck up ya sad-sacks. Come on! We can still turn this around!" Bunny cried hopping to them and getting back up when he was in the middle of the small, smaller than it should be, group. "Easter is tomorrow and I need your help. I say we pull out all the stops and we get those little lights flickering again!"
E. Aster Bunnymund was not the guardian of hope for nothing. Bunny smirked when North started making his way to the elevator muttering "Bunny is right".
Jack, with a small chuckle out of mirth followed after North.
They all got into the elevator, even Tooth who could just fly down to the factory part of the workshop, instead she choose to stay close to her boys.
"As much as it pains me to say old friend," North said his voice grave "this time Easter is more important than Christmas." He said getting out of the elevator when they reached the factory.
Bunny stood there frozen then his ears perked up and large grin formed on his furry face. "Hey! Did everyone hear that?!"
Jack snickered quietly at the pooka's reaction. "Hear what flopsy?" He asked casually walking past Bunny, a smirk on his pale face.
"We must hurry to the Warren." North continued, still walking with the Tooth fairy hovering near his right shoulder. "Everyone, to the sleigh!"
Getting on all fours Bunny easily got in front of the large Russian before the man could take another step forward. The surprise on his old friend's face made his grin widen. "Ohh no, mate. My warren my rules. Buckle up."
Bunny directed everyone's attention to the floor before he tapped on it with his foot.
Understanding what would happen North breathed "Shostakovich!" When the tunnel opened the Cossack grabbed the nearest thing he could reach to prevent from falling down the tunnel, which unfortunately were his wife's tail feathers. The large man ended up dragging the fairy down the tunnels with him, Jack and a yeti.
Aster waited for Baby Tooth to fly down the tunnel and let a random elf jump in the tunnel for the heck of it, before jumping down the rabbit hole himself. Last to jump in and first to reach the Warren. You really didn't want to race a rabbit, especially not in the rabbit's own tunnels.
Used to ice slides, Jack had great fun sliding down the tunnel, so he landed easily, both feet planting on the soft grass of the Warren. Tooth was back in the air as soon as she was out of the tunnel, a bit disoriented, but she was giggling from the experience so she was fine. Baby Tooth immediately flew to be near her queen.
Unlike them, North and his yeti came to a crashing halt out of the tunnel, elf kringle even landed upside down.
"Buckle up" North laughed pushing himself up. "is very funny."
"Wow..." Jack breathed looking around the place. Never in his tree-hundred years had the winter spirit seen so much green! Trees, every kind that grew in spring, flowers most of he didn't recognize and some that he did.
Smirking at the kid's stunned expression Bunny hopped forward standing in front of his friend, between two large egg golems. "Welcome to the Warren-" Bunny cut himself, rising up, ears high and nose twitching Bunny's emerald gaze looked around. "Something is up!"
At this and hearing the faint sound of someone screaming in the depths of one of the tunnels had them all on alert. North grabbed his swords, Jack readied his staff, the yeti pulled out his own pointy weapon and when Bunny had his boomerangs ready the group charged forward all bellowing a loud battle cry.
Un till little two-year old Sophie Benet came running out bringing a halt to their charge, Bunny held his arms to the side to prevent the others from accidentally attacking the child.
Seeing the guardians also brought a halt to Sophie's excited squeal, flabbergasted she dropped the three egglets she had been carrying in her little arms. The little eggs instantly ran to Bunny like ducklings hiding behind their mother.
Weapons were quickly hidden when they realized Pitch wasn't attacking.
"Sophie?" Jack asked recognizing the toddler as Jamie's little sister.
The little blonde girl giggled when she spotted Kringle. "Elf, elf, elf!" She cheered and started chasing the unsuspecting elf who cried out in fear and ran to escape the tiny terror.
Trying to calm his little googies down Bunny asked "What is she doing here?!"
Messing with his coat North's eyes widened when he realized he was one snow globe short. "Snow globe" The Russian winced with embarrassment.
"Crikey!" Bunny cursed when more of his googies ran to hide behind him. "Somebody do something!"
"Don't look at me," Jack said flashing them a smug toothy grin, he held his hands up in surrender. "I'm invisible remember." The fact that he could say that without his voice breaking showed how used to being invisible he was. Jack flew up and landed on a stone golem enjoying the guardians shocked expressions as they watched Sophie drag Kringle across the ground by the bell of his pointy hat.
The elf send Bunny pleading look, silently asking for help as he dragged across the floor.
Tooth looked from Jack to Sophie and nodded to herself, "Don't worry Bunny, I bet she's a fairy fan." She sang flying to Sophie, "It's okay little one." She cooed gaining the toddler's attention.
Bright green eyes grew, shining bright in delight when she saw the feathered woman. "Pretty..." Sophie breathed staring up at the queen.
"Awww!" Tooth smiled flying down. "You know what, I got something for you." Humming she reached for something hidden in the small brown bag she had hidden near her wings. "Here it is." Toothiana chirped showing the two-year-old the three pearly white teeth with little red specks on them near the roots. "Look at all the pretty teeth with little blood and gum on them!"
When the pretty fairy cooed at bloody teeth and gum Sophie reacted like any normal little girl would react. She ran away screaming... for a short while before she got distracted again by more wandering eggs.
Laughing Jack tilted his head to look at the now pouting Tooth fairy. "Blood and gums?" He tried to stop giggling, he really did. "When was the last time any of you actually hung out with kids?"
300 years, two months and one day ago to be precise.
The excuse they had used for years was already on the three guardians' minds. They all had very important jobs to do and sometimes it was easier to focus on that than on children who would forget about them when they grew up or children who drowned... "We are very busy bringing joy to children!" North answered Jack's question. "We don't have time..." The Russian's face fell, Tooth covered her mouth with her hands in surprise at the cold realization and Bunny turned away from the egglets to stare at North as the Cossack finished his sentence shock clearly plastered all over his face. "...for children."
But they once had. They had time for a child once... 300 years, two months and one day ago.
Jack was surprised with the forlorn look the guardians all suddenly had. Deciding to help out Jack formed a snowflake, a perfect snowflake. "If one little kid can ruin Easter, then..." He rolled the snowflake between his finger(in a way very similar as to what Tooth did with a coin before she'd softly plant it underneath a child's pillow) "Then we're in worse shape than I thought." he said letting the snowflake float.
The destination was already planned, so no matter that little Sophie Benet chased it, the delicate snowflake still found its target. Bunnymund's pink nose where it dissolved, blue lights lighting up around Bunny's nose and eyes and just like that the pooka's concerns melted away with the snowflake and Aster is filled with unknown giddiness and the intense need to have fun. The kind of fun he hadn't had in...
300 years, two months and one day.
The six-foot tall rabbit warrior dropped to all fours and went to where Sophie was kneeling near a beautiful red flower. The two watched the flower as it opened up revealing an egg growing on the inside. He smiled proudly when Sophie awed at the beautiful sight. "Wanna paint some eggs?" He asked getting up and holding out his hand.
"Okay!" Sophie cheered happily bouncing up and down before taking the Easter Bunny's hand/paw and let him guide her. That's when Bunny recalled something from long ago. Grinning Aster scooped the girl up, put her on his shoulders, dropped to all fours and started running.
Much to Sophie's delight. "Weeeee!
Aster to enjoyed himself "Woohoo!"
To think, one little snowflake had been enough to get the pooka to let his guard down.
North and Jack both stared at the thousands of unpainted eggs that ran through the meadow, both slack-jawed. "Rimsky Korsakov!" North cried straightening up. "That's a lot of eggs."
"Uh, how much time do we have?" Jack asked now high up on a pear tree.
"Alright troops it's time to push back!" Bunny ordered the thousands and thousands of eggs who all obeyed loyally. The elf Kringle, standing among them, a hand near his head like a military salute. "That means eggs everywhere!"
The rabbit assigned tasks to all his comrades. The yeti, elf and Baby Tooth would help with the painting. North would keep the unpainted eggs in line and Tooth and Jack would herd the finished eggs from the painting area.
From his place on a rock North laughed loudly and waved at little Sophie who was laying on her back and being carried by the egglets past the sorting stones. He was gazing at the eggs, but the Russian's mind was elsewhere.
That snowflake his boy created, the wizard and inventor in him wanted to know how they worked.
North looked at Bunny who was having a great time playing with Sophie. Bunnymund hadn't acted like this since...
Since they lost Jack. More so when Jack was younger and later the two became best friends, bickering buddies and play fight partners.
So maybe Jack's magic was similar to his mother's. Maybe that snowflake reminded Bunny of fun times from the past and made the pooka want to act like that again.
On the other hand, the pooka's excitement seemed similar to how children would act on Christmas morning. Bunny always got enthusiastic for his holiday and this time he was really enjoying himself, cheering with joy and really having fun preparing Easter.
So maybe Jack's power was like his dad's. Bring out the wonder in people and make them act on it.
When Sophie had fallen asleep, Bunny lifted her onto his lap smiling down at her when the little girl snuggled against his soft fur. That's when Jack walked over and sat down besides Bunny, keeping a decent amount of space between them. In worry in case he needed to escape or to stop more confusion, the winter child wasn't sure.
Because watching Bunny play with Sophie had been... odd. Deja vu did not even begin to cover it and it left Jack with another headache. Still Jack was proud that he got the grumpy ol' kangaroo to loosen up.
Jack still hadn't made up his mind about joining the guardians. The confusion and headaches couldn't be worth it and Jack had not spend 300 years alone to end up hiding somewhere in the world thinking of ways to bribe kids.
On the other hand, the guardians did have amazing homes. The workshop had been even better than Jack pictured it, the Tooth Palace breath taking and now the Warren...
Jack smiled admiring the view from their spot on the hill, they could see the beautifully painted eggs make their way to the many tunnels. "Not bad..."
"Not bad yerself." Bunny smiled at him, the smile proud and relieved because not all things were as lost as they seemed and Jack helped with reminding them that. Bunny was a guardian and yet this was the first time he had fun with a kid in centuries and that all thanks to his old favorite child. Of course Jack didn't see that.
The frost child was looking at the sleeping Sophie in Bunnymund's arms with a far away look in his sky blue eyes. Again the déjà vu... No that wasn't right... This didn't make sense! But he was missing something. Something had always been missing! B-but...
"Time for ya ta take a kip kiddo. Ya can look for more eggs when yer rested."
"-look at 'im all tuckered out."
His head hurt again, just like it had at the Tooth Palace. His mind feeling like his brain was trying to fight something off. A painful throbbing accompanied by an uncomfortable sensation at the back of his head.
"Kid? You okay?"
Opening his eyes Jack blinked a couple of times before focusing on Bunnymund who was looking at him with a concerned expression. Weird... Two people worrying about him in two days. His own personal record. "Yeah" Jack answered uncertainly. "Look," He said needing to change the subject and he probably should say it anyway judging by how Bunny had reacted to the comment back at the pole. "I'm sorry about that whole, you know, the 'kangaroo' thing."
To his surprise Bunny chuckled and flashed him a friendly smile. "It's the accent isn't it?"
North and Tooth approached them from behind, the couple staying close to each other unconsciously trying to make up for the lost time.
With North and Tooth standing beside him and a little kid in his arms Bunny is reminded of the first time he got to take Jack to the Warren when the tyke was just two. Jack ended up asleep at the end of the day to. "Ah, poor little ankle-biter." A soft smile on Bunny's face as he gazes at the sleeping child. "Look at her, all tuckered out."
None of the three guardians noticed Jack frown deeply at Bunny's words. The three of them were all reflecting the day and how much could change in just a view hours.
"I think it's time to get her home." Tooth said walking over, just when Bunny handed her Sophie Jack spoke up.
"How about I take her home?" He needed to get away. Get away from the guardians. Seeing them all together all like- like a family... hurt. Hurt because he wasn't- It didn't matter because he wasn't like them...
"Jack, no!" Tooth protested, a firm shake of her head. She just got her baby back no way was she risking him again. Not ever is she had a say in it. The thing was, that until Jack remembered her she was a stranger to him. Maybe even after he remembered. Those 300 years took away so much. "Pitch is-"
"No match for this." Jack interrupted her while proudly twirling his staff in his hands.
Bunny's ears lowered. Just when it almost started to feel like old times... "Which is why we need you here," He said, voice quiet. "with us."
To their surprise North walked over, carefully took Sophie from Bunnymund, walked over to Jack and handed him the sleeping toddler. "Is alright Jack." He had seen how Jack's eyes darted around as if looking for an exit, the way he seemed so restless. Tooth used to get like that when he first met her to.
The need for an escape was there, father Christmas recognized it.
North didn't miss how Jack's eyes growing when Sophie didn't go through him. This probably was the first time he could physically interact with a child.
"Trust me," Jack's voice was distant while he gazed at the small girl in his arms. She didn't believe in him... He could only touch her because she was asleep. That had to be it. He had never done this and Sophie had seen the guardians talk to him, so maybe she did believe in hi- No! Jack stopped his thoughts from going there. If it wasn't true... Well, there was no use to add to the empty feeling in his chest. "I'll be quick as a bunny."
Tooth didn't like it, but she couldn't argue. She didn't have Jack's trust. The fairy swallowed, amethyst eyes on her little prince, who at the same time wasn't like her little prince at all. And that hurt. Hands folded over her chest all the fairy could do, "Be careful." was tell him to be careful.
Flashing her a smile Jack nodded taking flight. "I will."