Ok, I'm so sorry *dodges flying fruit* I didn't mean to disappear for so long *dodges a boot* but things got crazy busy! *dodges a kitchen sink* Please forgive me!
In other news, I am happy to announce that raising money for my missionary trip to Ireland is going well, and I even got to go on the radio as a guest co host to talk about my trip! So I'm looking forward to what the future holds.
As a thank you, I have decided to upload the end of one of my most popular arcs…
HUMAN BUNNY! *listens to the echo fade off into the distance*
Shall we?
The next morning dawned bright and early, and Aster rolled over from what had been a sleepless night. The teen groaned as the sun cut through his eyelids, and forced him to an ever more coherent form of wakefulness, making the former Pooka sit up and give a heavy sigh. North's words rung in the back of his mind like the echo of a death toll over a battle ravaged city, and Aster found as he followed Jack and North towards the mountain that he couldn't concentrate due to the distress that that one harmless question caused within him. And as much as the former rabbit hated to say it, due to it making him sound like a petulant child, it just wasn't fair.
Jack walked next to him, his face solemn and pensive as he examined his friend's stumbling gait, and the way he couldn't bring himself to look at either of them in the eye. The sighing was another thing that was bothering him. Bunny had been letting out a forlorn sigh every five minutes or so, usually accompanied by a frustrated growl while raking his fingers through gray hair. It made Jack nervous and jumpy just feeling the palpable waves of despair and inner turmoil that were arcing off the larger teen's frame. The smaller boy groaned, if Bunny sighed one more time, he was going to slap him with a fish, a big smelly fish and then after they turned him back to normal he was going to permanently dye the Pooka's hair pink.
Bunny trudged along, his head down, and his hands firmly shoved into his pockets as he glared fiercely at the ground beneath him. Running his hands once again over his scalp, the former rabbit sighed kicking a bit of rock as he did so, causing Jack to suddenly explode into irritated snarls next to him, his face screwing into a visage of supreme displeasure.
"That's IT!" he screamed "Where's the nearest lake?!"
"Uh…" Bunny blinked in confusion "…Why…?"
"Because I need a fish!" Jack continued to yell.
"I surely hope that makes sense ta ya, Snowflake," Bunny murmured as one eyebrow began to rise with concern over Jack's mental health "because it don't ta me."
"Who cares if it makes sense to you," the frost spirit cried as he grabbed Aster by the front of his jacket "now tell me where it is before I do something that we'll both regret!"
"There's one about five miles due southeast," Aster pointed but quickly stopped the spirit before he took off "but regardless of what ya need a fish for, there aren't any, and there haven't been any since this world was attacked and destroyed."
"Wha-WHAT?!" Jack groaned in frustration "Whattaya mean, there aren't any?! Now what am I gonna hit you with?!"
"Like I said there aren't any…wait…hit me?" Aster paused before pinning Jack with a stern glare and crossing his arms, flexing the muscular biceps "And why do ya want ta hit me…Snowflake?"
"Because," the boy snarled "you won't stop sighing, and growling, and for heaven's sake Bunny if you run your fingers through your hair one more time at your current rate of speed, you're going to go bald!"
Aster stared at the boy currently fuming in front of him suddenly realizing that his turbulent mood had somehow affected the winter spirit, and why shouldn't it? Jack's core was the spirit of fun, meaning that he, like the other Guardians, was keenly in tune to the emotions of others, if not even more so due to his youth. Children were always best at sensing the emotions and undercurrents in a person's spirit than adults were, and so while Bunny may have North somewhat fooled, Jack was seeing his turmoil for what it was, bluntly and honestly. Well, he may not know exactly what it was or the cause, but the boy could definitely tell something was wrong, and it was bothering him to no end. Aster fought the grieved sigh that wanted to creep up his throat, not wishing to infuriate the frost child even more, and merely bit his lip in pained silence.
"Jack," the former rabbit said slowly "I'm sorry mate, I told ya that we were brothers and that we're family but I'm back ta bein' my old stubborn self."
"You talked to me when I was cleaning up your injury," Jack pouted "so what's so bad that you won't talk to me now?"
"It's just…" the former Pooka struggled "North…He…he said…he asked me if I wanted ta stay a human."
Jack took a small step back, his blue eyes growing wide as his lips trembled in dread "And…what did you say?"
"I don't know…" Bunny shrugged helplessly his voice cracking with emotion "I just…don't know, a'right? I wish I did, but I don't. I'm tired of bein' alone, and I'm tired of bein' the last of my kind. But…" Aster paused as he swallowed back a heavy sob and wiped away thick tears that tried to spill down his cheeks "But I don't wanna disappear neither."
Aster knelt to the ground as his body began to tremble violently "I don't wanna disappear," he croaked miserably through his tears "but I don't wanna be alone and the last o' my kind again…I just don't know Jack."
Jack bit his lip as the former Pooka gave in to the fear and grief eating him from the inside out, unable to offer comfort or console the larger teen. "I mean," Bunny continued as he rocked back and forth "I've spent centuries being the strong silent warrior, never letting anyone know my pain…or my fear. But then THIS happens, and I'm an emotional wreck, and I can't even see hope anymore, and I'm terrified Jack, I'm terrified of my future regardless of which path I choose. What do I do?"
Bunny hid his face in his arms, and Jack looked up to see North waiting patiently a few yards away, his eyes firmly set in the direction of the mountain as he gave the boys some privacy. Looking back to the former rabbit, Jack found himself sighing as the larger teen dissolved further and further into helpless sobs, his long fingers gripping the back of his scalp as he kept his face buried in the crook of his elbow. His shoulders jerked and convulsed as he struggled to keep the sobbing down to a minimum, but it was a battle that he was losing in a spectacular fashion. Jack could tell how stressed out his friend was, and knew that the only way to get him to find a semblance of peace was to help him release those feelings, and so with measured steps the boy softly crept forward and wrapped his arms around Bunny.
"Well," the frost child whispered "one thing you can do is stop trying to bottle up your feelings and let someone else help you carry your burden for a change."
North smiled, he was going to let Jack take care of this, but the paternal instinct within him was screaming to hug the tortured bunny as well. Walking over, the large man sat himself down, and drew both Jack and Aster onto his lap, hugging them both close to his broad chest. Jack didn't let go, despite the awkward position, and just snuggled closer to Aster, hoping that the Guardian would somehow feel how much both he and North cared about him. Bunny's trembles increased, as did the amount of tears streaming down his face, and finally he allowed himself to lean against North and wrap his arms around Jack and give in to the cry out he so desperately needed.
"I'm so sorry," he wept brokenly "I'm so…so…sorry!"
"You do not need to apologize," North cooed soothingly as he rubbed Bunny's back "you are going through very hard time, I would be worried if you were taking this like strong silent warrior."
"Not…about tha-at!" Bunny wailed feeling every bit like a small child "I can't choose!"
Jack opened his mouth, and then closed it, his cerulean gaze glancing up helplessly at North begging him to say something profound and helpful. The large man smiled, biting back a chuckle "Bunny," his deep baritone rumbled "we are not asking you to choose, but know one thing, you are not alone. I understand that you are last of your kind, but you are not alone, you have a family who loves you. Tooth wants so badly to be like a mother to you and Jack, and I can only hope that one day you both can see me as a father. Sandy watches over you and considers himself much like a grandparent, and then there is the case of Jack. He is your little brother Aster, and he needs your protection and guidance. He has been alive for three hundred years, yes, but even he knows that at his core is still very much still an innocent child. Jack needs an older brother to play with, to fight with, and to strive to be like, he needs you."
Jack blushed at the honest appraisal North was giving, but kept his arms firmly wrapped around the trembling teen "We love you," the frost child whispered "you know that, right?"
"Y-yeah," Aster sniffled as he rubbed his nose with the heel of his hand "I know it, Snowflake."
"Then why," Jack's voice cracked and his chin began to tremble as he hid his face into Bunny's shoulder to hide his own failure at fighting back the tears "why can't you just stay with us and be happy? Why can't you let US be your family, instead of saying you're still all alone?"
"Aw Jack," Bunny groaned snuggling Jack close as the affect of the winter spirit's words hit him full force "I'm sorry mate, yer right, and I should be thinkin' of ya as my family. I have been so caught up in the past I forgot who all of ya wanted ta be for me, and let myself get trapped in the mindset that I was alone. I'm sorry Jack, it is huge mistake on my part, one I never want ta make again."
"Good," Jack sniffled wiping his tears on Bunny's bomber jacket "because if you do, I'll dye your hair pink…and green…and purple!"
Aster felt laughter, sweet blessed laughter, bubble up in his stomach "Is…Is that your answer ta everythin'?" he chuckled softly as his laughter slowly built in volume "Ta dye my fur some medley of atrocious colors?"
"No," Jack whined as he looked up to direct a pout at the rabbit "I was going to slap you with a fish…but that plan failed before it could even begin!"
Bunny snorted as he tried to get his laughter under control, but it didn't work and soon he was leaning against North's chest, wiping away tears of mirth. His laughter, so carefree and full of relief from the dark cloud of depression and stress, was infective. Soon Jack was giggling helplessly, and North was letting out long loud guffaws. The trio sat like that, embracing each other and laughing their heads off for a solid ten minutes until finally their laughter died down to soft chuckles, leaving them slightly winded, but glowing with familial love and happiness. Aster sent a lopsided grin over to Jack, and pulled him closer so that he was sitting in his lap, while North squeezed the boys in his arms tight against his chest.
"Yer a good little brother Frostbite," Aster whispered as he hugged the winter spirit tenderly "I'm sorry that I haven't been a good big brother ta ya."
Jack snuggled into Aster's shoulder, his hands clenching the material of his shirt "You're a great big brother," he replied softly "the best, but you just need to work on remembering that we're family, and you don't have to act tough 24/7 around us anymore."
"A'right," Aster chuckled as he gently deposited Jack back onto the ground and stood up "now how's about we get walkin' and climb that mountain?"
"Sounds good to me," Jack grinned.
"Indeed," North nodded as he stood up and joined Bunny "let's get moving, we are running out of time and we need to move quickly to make up for what was lost."
Bunny and Jack nodded, their faces solemn with determination, and soon once again the trio was walking towards the mountain peak looming over them.
…
"Took you long enough," Tooth pouted "what, did you guys stop for take-out?"
"Uh…." Jack paused as he sent a lopsided grin towards his comrades "we got a little…sidetracked."
"Well, now that you're here," the fairy sighed with a fond smile as she suddenly noticed the light hopeful atmosphere surrounding the trio "let's get a move on and find that temple."
"YEAH!" Jack cheered.
"A'right," Aster responded with a determined nod "According ta the nursery rhyme, we are already where sky and water meet."
"The next line says 'When the sun is at your feet'," North continued "what does that mean?"
Aster pursed his lips "Well," he said slowly "we need ta follow in the direction of the sun, and the sun rises in the East, and sets in the West. So one of those two ways I guess…"
"Or maybe…" Jack watched the Sandman as he frantically pointed at a stone statue of a Pooka with a diamond set into its forehead.
Looking down, Jack grinned when he noticed carvings into the stone under their feet, and quickly kicked the overgrown vines away. Flying up into the sky, he made a disc made of ice, and carefully directed the sunlight so that it hit the diamond on the statue. The light lit up the gem, and reflected onto the ground making the winter spirit squeal in delight. "LOOK!"
Aster's eyes lit up with understanding as he hurried to removed the vines and weeds growing over the stone floor, clearing them away so they could see the images carved into it. Beneath the flora and fauna of the mountaintop was an elegantly carved map of the kingdom that the Pooka's had inhabited in the past. North whistled in appreciation of the craftsmanship, while Jack and Toothiana oohed and ahhed over the beauty etched into every detail. Bunny pointed a triumphant finger at the spot where the light being reflected hit, and his face split into a wide grin.
"When the sun is at yer feet," he barked happily "this is the next place we need ta get ta."
North took out a piece of paper and charcoal as he quickly did a rubbing of the whole map and marked their destination "Let's go!"
With North in the lead, the Guardians set off in the direction of their next clue, which led them to a deep canyon looming far into the distance. Aster sat on his haunches, his face unsure as he puzzled through the next part of the clues. "Follow the way of the fleet," he murmured softly as he nibbled on his thumbnail.
All the Guardians felt stumped on this one, the last clue was difficult, but how do you follow the way of the fleet when you were sitting on the edge of a canyon? Jack heaved a sigh as he wiped sweat from his brow, trying to forget how hot he was, and looked out across the vast expanse of stone. Surely there was another clue, wasn't there? Just as they were about to give up, an ecstatic yell burst from beside them, causing Jack to fall off the rock he had been sitting on. Bunny shot up, his finger wildly pointing into the far distance.
"Look!" he cried "Over there, what does that stone look like?"
The other four Guardians looked in the direction of Bunny's pointing finger only to see a rock that had been carved by wind, rain, and time, only to be carved by the elements to look like the form of a bunny. "Follow in the way of the fleet," the former rabbit said bouncing excitedly "I'd say that that's a good place ta start!"
"No harm in checking it out," Jack shrugged.
"Yes," Tooth chirped happily "it's our best clue to solving this riddle!"
Tooth and Jack flew over to pick up Bunny while Sandman created a cloud of sand to tote Santa Clause, and as one they flew out over the canyon towards the large stone shaped like a rabbit. Aster shut his eyes and grit his teeth, making Tooth look down to give him a sharp glare.
"Don't grind your teeth Aster," she scolded "I don't want you ruining them!"
"Sorry Toothy," the rabbit said with a pained groan "but you try bein' carried by two lightweights hundreds of feet up in the air."
"Bunny," Jack snarled "I'm not a lightweight!"
Aster defied his fear long enough to twist his arm in Jack's grasp around so that he could feel the boy's muscle, only to let out a whisper of a chuckle "Oh yeah," he said sarcastically "ya really put some of those body builders ta shame…if they were brand new ta body buildin'…and scrawny…and ten years old."
"Dude," Jack growled "I could drop you, say one more word, and I drop you."
Bunny tilted his head up to meet Jack's eyes and shot him a look that clearly said 'I dare you', and Jack gave a sly grin, loosening his hold on Bunny's arm and letting him feel just how much of the former rabbit's weight he had been holding. Aster let out an undignified shriek as he felt his arm slip through Jack's fingers, and Jack let out a long and loud guffaw as he tightened his hold once again.
"That…" the larger teen gasped "Tha' wasn't funny ya git!"
"Oh yes it was," Jack smirked proudly "and you will laugh about it…eventually."
"Yeah right," the former Pooka snarled "try never!"
"Boys," Tooth sighed "if you both don't stop bickering in 2.5 seconds, I personally ground you when all of this is over."
That shut the Guardians of Hope and Fun up as they continued flying in abject silence, neither wanted to tempt what horrors the fairy had up her sleeve in her idea of 'discipline'. Soon though they had reached the stone, and after landing, they stood in slack jawed wonder at the sight that met their eyes. Carved hieroglyphics of Pookas ran and danced along the sheer cliff wall, while a small group of Pookas ran off to the side in a line heading deeper into the canyon. Aster walked up to the carvings, his hand gently tracing their lines as he etched each detail into his memory.
"These," he said in a gruff voice made deep by emotion "are the elite Pooka. They were the fastest and strongest of our kind, the ones who guarded the king, and protected the secrets left behind by the ancients. My father was one, and I was one of the youngest ever ta join their ranks, they are the ones we need ta follow to the end of the riddle."
The Guardians gave solemn nods, none knowing the appropriate words to convey what they were feeling, and once again the group began their journey following the carved rabbits running along the cliff wall. Aster walked, his fingers running along the stone as a hundred forgotten memories assaulted his mind. Memories of his family, of his team, of the battles he took part in and the training he endured just so he could wear the weapons given to the elite Pooka who were intrepid enough to make it on the squad. All too soon they rounded a corner, and once again the group was struck dumb with wonder. Carved into the side of the mountain was a large temple entrance with pillars, and murals, and a grand entryway guarded by two stone rabbits standing twenty feet high. The statues each held a spear, crisscrossing them over the doorway, blocking anyone from entry.
Jack felt his jaw drop and his eyes bug out as he took in the sight "Whoa," he breathed.
"Uh huh," Aster agreed with a vague nod his eyes never leaving the temple.
North looked on the grand façade, his eyes wide with wonder before finally giving a stern nod "We have arrived," his Russian accent rumbled "let us go inside."
Slowly the group stepped forward, stepping onto the first steps leading up to the entrance when suddenly a dust storm kicked up, making all the Guardians, sans Sandy of course, duck their heads at the vicious winds whipping through them. When the gusts died down, they were shocked to see the translucent figure of an elderly Pooka standing before them. Wearing a red cloak, the ancient rabbit's white beard and mustache grew from his face and were almost to the ground.
"Warrior," he said in a quavering voice that had the whisper of the ages drifting through each syllable "you have come seeking salvation. The answers to your quest lay inside, but only by passing three tests may you truly prove yourself worthy to enter the sacred chamber sealed long ago by the ancient ones. This is not something you should take lightly, for these tests will measure your skill as a warrior, the strength of your heart, and the wisdom of your mind. Should you choose to undertake these tasks, understand that there is no going back once you begin, and you cannot receive any help but rather must solve each on your own. Good luck young one, and may the spirits guide you in your journey."
With that the figure disappeared, shimmering away into nothingness like a mirage. Aster stepped forward, lacing one foot on the stone step "My name is E. Aster Bunnymund," he shouted in a loud voice "and I have chosen to undertake the trials that lay inside the sacred temple."
The statues suddenly came to life, their arms curling to their sides as they removed the spears and allowed the stone door to creak open. Jack shot a breathless smile to Bunny, and soon the group was walking up the steps and into the main foyer of the temple. The room was large, looking much like a Grecian building with its pillars, and in the middle lay a large bronze basin filled with crystal clear water.
"Welcome," whispered a voice on one side of the room.
Jack jumped into Bunny's arms with a shriek as a tall Pooka covered by a white shroud with a flowing hood hiding its face from view "What is it with this place and ghosts!" the winter child wailed.
"Hush," Aster scolded with a fond smile "show a bit more respect for the ones who guard the temple."
Jack pouted and then stuck his tongue out at the former rabbit, stepping away and crossing his arms with a huff, Aster shook his head with a chuckle but turned back towards the ghostly rabbit as it once again began speaking.
"No one, save the tested, may venture beyond this point," the spirit whispered "those who travel with him must stay here."
"But," Tooth exclaimed "we can't just stay here and wait for him, I would go crazy from not knowing what's happening!"
"That is easily fixed," the ghost chuckled softly as it glided forward and touched the water in the bronze basin with one finger.
The water rippled and shifted, changing colors until it showed an image of them standing looking into the basin "With this," the ghost replied "you may watch the tested as he undertakes the trials, though you cannot help him and must allow him to pass the tests through his own power."
"Well," Jack pouted "I don't like it, but it's better than nothing I guess."
"Indeed," North rumbled "at least we can keep watch over Bunny, and not sit here worrying over how he is doing."
"A'right," Bunny finally sighed "then I guess it's time I get a move on then, eh?"
Tooth rushed forward, wrapping her arms around Bunny's neck "You can do it," she urged "you are more than capable of passing these tests."
"Yeah," Jack nodded enthusiastically "you may act like an old man most of the time, but you're pretty tough, so I think these 'trials' should be a piece of cake for you."
"Carrot cake," Aster laughed with a wink.
"Make us proud Aster," North said clapping a hand on Bunny's shoulder.
"I'll try mate." The former Pooka nodded.
Sandy flew forward, and gave two wild thumbs up making the former Pooka laugh "Thanks Sandy," he said softly "I'll do my best."
His heart beating wildly in his chest Aster took a deep breath and strode forward through the door on the other side of the room leading deeper into the temple. The former Pooka resisted a shudder as a sudden cold breeze cut through him. Stepping into the room, his eyes slowly became adjusted to the gloom and he gazed out onto a chamber covered in snow and frost, with various mirrors made of ice standing around in various parts of the room. Back in the foyer, Jack let out an unhappy huff.
"I won't help him with the test," he whined "but can I at least sit in the room that's actually cold?"
The ghost nodded its head with a barely audible laugh, and the room suddenly became chilled, but not so much as to make Tooth and North become uncomfortable, Jack however sighed in contentment as his eyes closed in rapture.
"That," he sighed wistfully "is perfect."
Turning back to the basin, they watched Bunny walk into the room, his eyes widening as he stepped in front of a mirror. In the image, Aster saw himself as a Pooka, wearing the traditional uniform of the elite. Looking down, he saw that he was still human, but his image in the mirror remained the same. Stepping to the side, he looked in another mirror, this one showing him standing in front of his family home holding a farm tool in one paw and a bag of seed hanging from his shoulder.
"What in the…" he muttered with confusion.
"You must choose one."
Aster whirled around with a startled yelp only to come face to face with the elderly Pooka he had met on the steps. One paw clutching his chest as he struggled to catch his breath, the former Pooka gasped out a small chuckle "Beg pardon?"
"One of these mirrors is a reflection of your soul, the image of your true self," the Pooka's ancient voice grated "you must choose the one you believe to be the reflection of what you truly are, and walk through it. Should you choose correctly, it will become the doorway to your next trial, but should you fail, you will walk into endless torment and death."
"Oh…" Aster squeaked as the elderly Pooka disappeared and he turned back to the mirrors.
Images bounced off the shiny surfaces, each one reflecting a piece of Aster's soul, him as a warrior, him working the farm at his ancestral home, another one of him painting next to a lake. Each close to who he was, but not truly his core. Finally he came to the last three mirrors, each striking in how starkly they mirrored his feelings. One was of him holding an Easter basket, a beautiful bow wrapped around the wicker handle, and colorful eggs lay nestled within the basket surrounded by soft green grass. Aster smiled and almost chose that image, but gasped at another image that popped into his peripheral.
Staggering back, the former rabbit bit back a choked sob at the image that confronted him. In the icy depths of the mirror lay an image of a battered and broken Pooka, his grey fur stained by ash, and his paws covered and dripping with the blood of his people. Emerald eyes, once bright with hope, were shattered with despair and downcast with grief. Tears trickled down the fur, leaving wet trails on the grimy cheeks. Aster clasped his hands under his arms, his chest heaving as he began to hyperventilate, his shoulders trembling with fear as he struggled not to look at his hands and inevitably see the blood that must still stain them. Stumbling past that mirror, the former Pooka ran to the next image, praying that this was better.
This one was, for it showed him not by himself, but with the Guardians. He lay on the floor curled up in front of the fireplace, Jack running a brush through his fur and snickering every time the brush made the rabbit's foot twitch. North sat in his favorite chair reading a newspaper, and Tooth was on the couch reading a magazine, while Sandy sat on top of the fireplace gently sprinkling dream sand over the sleeping rabbit. Aster fell to his knees, his chest heaving with sobs as he looked between the three mirrors, which one was he?
He felt that he was a murderer, for he had been able to do nothing to save his kind, and therefore he felt he was responsible for their demise, but he was also the Easter Bunny, and a Guardian. So which image was he to choose? Taking a breath, Aster staggered to his feet, and ran through the mirror that showed him with the Guardians, only to walk into a room that was shrouded in darkness.
"Hello Aster,"
Bunny whirled around, coming face to face with Sabine, his former love. "S-Sabine?" he choked.
"Yes Aster," she whispered gently "it's me."
"Wha-" he gasped "what are ya doin' here?"
"I'm here to help," she smiled "look what I brought you."
Holding out her snowy white paw, Aster looked upon a small egg that had been dyed purple "What's that?" he asked hesitantly.
"The answer to all your problems," Sabine whispered her lavender eyes on the egg in her paw.
"How?"
"Take this egg," she said softly "and break it. It will turn you back to your original form."
"But…wait," Aster shook his head as he stumbled a couple steps back "I only passed one test, I think, so unless you're my endless torment I can't go back ta bein' myself yet."
"Who cares about the trials," Sabine pouted "I'm offering you the easy way out, without having to go through all those silly tests. Wouldn't you rather go back to being you without all the fuss and have this all be over with?"
"Ye-es," Aster replied slowly "but…that's not the way yer supposed ta do things. The important and best things in life have ta be worked for, and earned through hard labor and effort. If I were ta take ya up on yer offer, I may be a Pooka again, but it won't be the same. I'll just be cheap imitation of what I could have been if I had gone through the trials."
"So you're not going to take me up on my offer?" Sabine asked lowly.
"No Sheila," the former rabbit said with a shake of his head "I can't, not when there is so much at stake. I need ta do things the right way."
Sabine gave a dazzling smile "Good answer," she said softly as she leaned forward and softly kissed him on the lips "you passed the second test."
Suddenly the ground underneath the Pooka opened up, causing him to fall down a hole and slide through a tunnel only to land in yet another room. This one was lit by a large circle of tall lamps with flickering flames dancing on top. Walking into the middle of the circle, Aster gasped when he saw himself walk out of the shadows and into the light.
"What?" the teen gasped.
"You've overcome the tests of wisdom, and strength of heart," his clone growled "but now you must face your most terrible enemy…yourself."
With a roar, the clone charged forward, boomerangs at ready. Aster ducked to the side, a pained cry exploding from his mouth as he felt his stitched tug and pull at the skin on his back. But he didn't have time to contemplate his past injury, because his clone had already turned around, and was charging him yet again. Aster staggered to his feet, but not fast enough as he felt a fist backed by the very muscles he was so proud of drive into his abdomen and send him flying across the room. Smacking into the opposite wall, Aster felt an agonized grunt whisper from between his lips as he slid down to the floor, and violently retched the contents of his stomach onto the stone.
"Pathetic," clone Bunny snarled "if ya were actually a warrior, then ya wouldn't let something as pitiful as being turned human stop ya from winning this fight."
"Yer stronger," Aster gasped "this form is weak, I don't have a chance!"
"Wrong!" clone Bunny spat "The basics of martial arts teaches the small and the weak how to defeat the strong and the mighty, yer current form is more than capable of winning if ya actually tried to get beyond the wall ya built in yer mind. The only thing keepin' ya from attaining victory is yer own mind because yer convinced yer gonna lose. If ya actually tried ta attain yer dreams and stopped moping around thinkin' yer a loser, then maybe yer life would actually change fer the better!"
Aster looked down at the ground, his eyes wide and unblinking as he felt like a century's worth of scales that had been blinding him from the truth had fallen from his eyes allowing him clarity for the first time in his life. "Yer right," he panted as he struggled back to a standing position "Yer absolutely right, and I'm goin' ta win this fight."
"Tha's the spirit," clone bunny smirked "now COME ON!"
With a roar, the two collided, each delivering blow after crushing blow until finally Aster ran up the side of one wall, and jumping off it to tackle his clone to the ground. Grabbing the sharpened boomerang, he held it to his clone's throat, breathing hard his face wreathed in a grin of victory. "I win."
"Aye, ya do mate," his clone smirked "now how about we get ya back ta yer handsome self?"
"I couldn't be happier."
With a blinding flash of light, Aster fell through the floor once again, this time only to land back in the foyer where the Guardians had been watching him. Jack rushed to his side, his hands waving excitedly as he stammered in urgency.
"B-Bunny, LOOK! LOOKLOOKLOOK!"
Aster glanced down, and was pleased to see fur, copious amounts of fur covering what was once skin, and the clothes that he was once wearing had somehow disappeared. Standing up, he checked himself over, ensuring that he was well and truly a Pooka again before looking back to the Guardians and spreading his paws wide. "I BA-ACK!" he sang.
"BUNNY!" was the unanimous cry as he was tackled to the floor by the Guardians.
"I'm so glad you're you again!" Tooth sobbed as she cuddled him, her delicate hands stroking his head.
"Yeah," Jack nodded ecstatically "but don't think that just because you're a kangaroo again means that you can go back to acting like a grumpy old man. I know your real age, and I intend on making sure you act like it!"
"A'right Snowflake, whatever ya want," Aster guffawed.
"Bunny!" North gave an exuberant shout as he bent down and lifted the rabbit in a tight hug "it is good to have you back to being yourself!"
"It's good ta be back," Aster smiled breathlessly "but seriously mate, let me go, I can't breathe!"
"AH! Sorry," North dropped the Pooka and clapped his hands "let us go back home and celebrate, yes?!"
"YEAH!"
….
Within a few hours the group was back at the workshop and all were taking part in welcoming Bunny back to being his old self, but the rabbit couldn't quite get into the spirit of things, there was still one small question nagging him. Where was Pitch in all this? Surely the Boogeyman wouldn't do something like this, only to let him turn back to a Pooka and ruin his plans, why didn't he try to stop them? Walking up the stairs, the rabbit didn't notice Jack's worried stare as he watched his friend make his solemn trek up the stairway towards their special thinking spot on the roof. Following him, the winter spirit landed on the roof, his cerulean gaze taking the worried form of his older adopted brother.
"Bunny?"
The Pooka turned around to see Jack standing behind him, his hands gripping his staff tightly "Yeah Snowflake?"
"Uh…" the child bit his lip uncomfortably "you ok?"
"Yes…and no," Bunny shrugged.
"What's wrong?"
"Pitch," Aster replied simply "I mean, he just let us win, and didn't even try ta stop me getting' back ta bein' myself, I just can't help but wonder why."
"That's easy."
The silky smooth British accent caught them both off guard and they whirled around to come face to face with the Boogeyman "Pitch," Jack snarled.
"In the flesh," the man bowed with a dark snicker "and in answer to your question, the reason why I turned you human was for comepletely different reasons than I gave you cause to believe."
"Whattaya mean, Pitch?" Aster growled deep in his throat.
"I mean," the Boogeyman laughed "that I let you become a bunny again merely because that was part of my plan. You see, up until now, all you lot have seen of me was shadows and projections, and I wanted to get out of those caves and back in the flesh again. The problem though was getting enough fear to strengthen me and thereby free me from my cage, if I had fed off the fears of children then I would have been stuck for a century at least, and so I needed something a little more potent than the fear of a child, I needed the fear…of a Guardian."
"You turned me into a human, and had me forgettin' who I was, all because ya wanted me scared?!" the Pooka cried incredulously.
"Exactly," Pitch nodded "and I have to say it worked, because the amount of fear you were pumping out, I was free from my bonds even sooner than I had originally anticipated."
"That's," Jack sighed in disgust "is just low."
"Please," the dark man scoffed "you should be happy, at least I wasn't trying to take over the world. I was merely using my talents to free myself from bondage. It could have been much worse."
"True," Aster acknowledged "but that doesn't excuse ya from the beat down ya deserve fer makin' me go through that torture!"
With a snarl, Bunny sprinted forward attempting to tackle Pitch, but only succeeding in almost sliding off the roof. Jack gave a startled yelp and darted forward to catch the Pooka before he fell over the edge while Pitch laughed from his spot that he had stepped to while avoiding the Guardian's attack.
"It's been fun Guardians," the Boogeyman spat "but I need to go. Places to go, people to scare, the usual. Ta-ta!"
Shadow leapt up and swallowed him, leaving the two Guardians sitting on the roof by themselves. "Jack" Bunny sighed.
"Yeah Kangaroo?" Jack replied.
"I need a vacation…"
"Agreed."
