Disclaimer: I Do Not Own Rise of the Guardians.
Destiny: Jack
14. Bunny's Biggest Threat
INT. PITCH'S LAIR - NIGHT
The SPY NIGHTMARE flies down into a dark cavernous space. Large STEEL CAGES hang all around and trapped inside are the MINI TEETH. The Nightmare heads toward Pitch, standing at his own GLOBE, which is conspicuously covered in lights.
"I don't recognise it" said North, he had been to many liars belonging to immortal spirits. Jack frowned. It looked like Man In Moon had even gave Pitch his own lair, why didn't Jack get one?
PITCH The lights...why aren't they going out?
The Guardians hi-fived each other. North's plan seemed to be working.
The Nightmare approaches from behind and lets out a soft whiney; Pitch stiffens at the news.
PITCH They're collecting the teeth?
The MINI TEETH perk up at this, and start twittering excitedly, which echoes throughout the lair.
PITCH Oh pipe down, or I'll stuff a pillow with you!
Tooth gritted her teeth, not caring how bad for teeth that actually was, and a low growl echoed from her throat, slightly scaring Bunny who was sitting right next to her.
The Mini Teeth begin to settle down. PITCH looks at the Nightmare, frustrated, and scowls. The Nightmare winces and disperses into tiny particles. A strand of NIGHTMARE SAND from the Nightmare twirls in the air, and Pitch twists it with his fingers, turning it into a crude image of the SANDMAN.
Sandy sighed. He had already guessed that Pitch would come for him. He had already somehow managed to gain control over some of the Sandman's sand, but with Sandy still be there Pitch had no way of controlling the rest. If he took out Sandy, then he would be able to control all the sand and bring nightmares to every child on the planet.
PITCH Fine, have your last hurrah. For tomorrow, all you pathetic scrambling will be for nothing.
And he crushes the image in his fist.
The Guardians and Jack looked at Sandy with a hint of worry of their faces. Sandy shrugged, there was nothing he could do. This was in the future. And even if Pitch was able to take him out, belief would more than likely be able to bring him right back... even if it took a while.
INT. JAMIE'S BEDROOM
A cool looking ROBOT TOY rests on Jamie's bedside table. Jamie is sound asleep in bed. A smile across his face reveals the recently formed gap between his teeth.
"Hey" Jamie cheered, "it's me. I wasn't able to stay awake though." Jamie pouted, which caused his little sister to poke at his lip until he was smiling again.
TOOTH (O.S.) Left central incisor, knocked out in a freak sledding accident. I wonder how that could have happened, Jack?
Jack laughs as he looks at JAMIE'S DRAWING of himself during the SNOWBALL FIGHT on the wall. He's midair, blasting his friends with snowballs. He smiles and then turns to Tooth.
JACK (LAUGHS) Kids, huh?
The room seemed to quieten as they watch Tooth watch the child. It had been centuries since she had even seen a child up close. Jack thought that if the Guardians were able to actually know who they were protecting, it might make them better at their jobs. Jack on the other hand still held onto the idea that he as a Guardian was a stupid idea and that the Man In Moon probably recruited him to show the Guardians that being out on the field is not a bad thing, even if bribing Jack with his memories was a very very low point.
He watches as Tooth reaches under the pillow. She hovers over Jamie as he stirs in his sleep. A dreamy smile comes over her as she gazes down at the sleeping boy.
TOOTH This was always the part I liked most - seeing the kids. (BEAT) Why did I ever stop doing this?
A beat; Jack sees how much it means to her.
JACK It's a little different up close, huh?
Tooth gives him a look: he's right.
Emma and her parents watched this with sad smiles on their faces. For all his jokes and laughter, their brother and son also knew how to connect with people.
TOOTH Thanks for being here, Jack. I wish I had known about your memory, I could've helped you.
JACK Yeah, well, look let's just get you taken care of. Then it's Pitch's turn, huh?
A sudden COMMOTION. They both turn to the window.
NORTH Here you are!
"North's here" said Bunny, "meaning that the kid is going to wake up. Big guy can't keep his mouth shut." The other three guardians nodded in agreement.
"Does that mean I'm probably going to see you?" asked Jamie. They nodded. "Even Jack?"
They winced and looked over at Jack. Who shrugged and turned to Jamie.
"Probably not kid" he chucked, "you don't believe in me. No belief, no seeing. Don't worry though, I am used to it."
"I don't care" declared Jamie, "I promise that I will remember you, and I will be believe in you before this movie ends even if I had to write your name on my skin."
Jack blinked. This kid sure seemed to be determined. Jack didn't see all of Jamie's friends agree with him. They were positive that Jack would never be alone again.
North, carrying a large sack over his shoulder, struggles to climb in through the small window. Sandman and Baby Tooth climb in after. Everybody whispers.
TOOTH SSHHHHHHHH!
NORTH Oh, what gives slowpokes!?
Jamie is still sound asleep.
"How am I sleeping through that?" Jamie whispered, just wanting to see his idols in person.
NORTH How you feeling, Toothy?
TOOTH Believed in.
Bunny looked proud of himself. Jack had to stop himself from laughing
NORTH (LAUGHS) Haha! That's what I want to hear.
BUNNYMUND (O.S.) Oh I see how it is...
Bunny comes in through a rabbit hole in the floorboards.
BUNNYMUND (CONT'D) All working together to make sure the rabbit gets last place.
"Of course" said North.
North now holds his index fingers up to his lips.
"Oh that is just cheeky" said Bunny, "North telling me to be quiet."
NORTH SSSHHHHHHHHH!
JACK You think I need help to beat a bunny? Check it out, Peter Cottontail.
Jack lifts up his sack of teeth.
BUNNYMUND You call that a bag of choppers? (lifting larger sack) Now that's a bag of choppers.
NORTH Gentlemen! Gentlemen! This is about Tooth. It's not a competition! But if it was - (reveals even larger sack) I win. YEEEEEHAAAHH!
The Guardians and Jack all face palmed while Jamie started cheering. That would be sure to wake him up.
And he strikes a Russian dancing pose as... Suddenly a bright circle of light is cast on the Guardians. NORTH (CONT'D) Oh no...
JAMIE (O.C.) (SURPRISED) Santa Claus?
They all turn slowly to see Jamie sitting up in bed, holding a flashlight, wide awake and beaming in disbelief.
JAMIE (CONT'D) The Easter Bunny?...Sandman...The Tooth Fairy! I knew you'd come!
TOOTH Surprise! (GIGGLING) We came!
JACK He can see us?
Jamie looks around, amazed, he sees everyone but Jack.
BUNNYMUND Most of us.
Jamie slumped back into his chair. He knew that the chances of him seeing Jack were low but he had still hoped. Jack shrugged, he honestly didn't expect anything else even if his future self had a second of hope.
TOOTH Shhh! You guys, he's still awake.
BUNNYMUND Sandy! Knock him out!
"Were you about to punch a child?" Tooth asked. North and Bunny were looking at Sandy with serious concern on the faces. Sandy shrugged, he was told to put them to sleep, did it really matter how he want about it. Jack, and his the humans, all roared with laughter.
They all look to him, scandalized. Jamie looks concerned.
JAMIE Huh?
BUNNYMUND With the Dreamsand, ya gumbies.
But then Jamie's GREYHOUND rises up into frame, fully awake, its nostrils flaring at the scent he's picked up.
Jack eagerly leaned forward in his seat, accidentally dragging Emma with him, "oh, this is gonna funny." His parents looked at him concerned before looking back at the screen.
JAMIE No, stop that's the Easter Bunny. What are you doing, Abbey? Down!
The dog is nose to nose with Bunnymund.
BUNNYMUND Alright, nobody panic.
JACK (ENJOYING THIS) But that's a um, that's a greyhound. Do you know what greyhounds do to rabbits?
BUNNYMUND I think it's a pretty safe bet he's never met a rabbit like me -
While Sandy forms a Dreamsand baseball, Jack rolls his eyes and notices an alarm clock on the bedside table.
"Oh no" said Tooth, running her hand down her face. Jack seemed to be a mixture of an asset to the team and a menace. If he did agree to join the Guardians once this was over, she was sure that her days wouldn't be dull ever again.
BUNNYMUND (CONT'D) Six foot one, nerves of steel, master of tai-chi and the ancient
Jack can't resist: he reaches over stealthily and SETS OFF THE ALARM CLOCK with his staff. RRRRRIIIIING!
BUNNYMUND Crikey.
Bunny is off like a shot, the greyhound right on his tail, running laps in the small room, the dog barking like crazy.
"Where are his parents while this is going on?" asked Tooth, concerned. Nobody answered her but Jamie knew that Abbey liked to bark so his parents never really questioned it.
JAMIE Stop! Sit!
Sandy, amused, makes a Dreamsand baseball to stop the dog, but bobbles it as the dog brushes past.
JAMIE Down girl, down!
The others stand out of the way as Bunny and the dog run up the walls and over the bed. As Tooth tries to silence the alarm clock, Jack can barely contain his laughter. Sandy takes aim as Bunny and the dog run circles around him-
NORTH Sandy, Sandy!
The dog jumps past North, knocking him back.
NORTH Ah!
As Sandy winds up, the dog suddenly SMACKS right into him. The Dreamsand goes flying.
"Uh oh" grinned Jack. Sandy smirked behind his hand as the Guardians looked worried.
TOOTH Hey, this is not proper Tooth Fairy behaviour!
North ducks out of the way as the Dreamsand sails toward him. The Dreamsand baseball smacks Tooth right in the face and explodes into golden dust. Tooth and her fairy fall to the ground as a golden tooth takes shape above their heads. Streams of Dreamsand make their way around the room.
BUNNYMUND (O.C.) Ah, this thing's rabid! Get this dingo off me!
Bunny gets a whiff of the golden sand. The image of a carrot quickly takes shape in front of his face.
BUNNYMUND Oh no.
THUD! Bunny falls over asleep. THUD! So does the dog. North tries to scramble out of the way, but there's no escape in this tiny room.
NORTH Candy canes...
He teeters for a moment as Dreamsand candy canes appear before him, then falls like a giant Sequoia, landing - THUD! - on the end of Jamie's bed, which sends Jamie catapulting through the air.
JAMIE Whoaaaaaaaaaa!
Luckily he lands - OOF! - in Sandy's arms. He starts to wake up AGAIN, but Sandy is there with a fistful of sand - BOOF! - and Jamie too is out cold.
Jack started laughing again. This was going to be fun when it actually started to happen.
Jack and Sandy look down at the sleeping boy, relieved. Then they look around - a heap of sleeping, snoring bodies.
JACK Whoops...
Bunny is snuggled up next to North. A carrot and candy canes, made of Dreamsand, hold hands as they dance above Bunny and North's head. Jack comes down off the dresser and turns to Sandy, who has put Jamie back in bed. Sandy lifts North's arm and lets go, it's completely limp and falls flat. Sandy smiles at Jack, who chuckles.
JACK Oh, I really wish I had a camera right now.
Sandy eyes suddenly widen. There's a Nightmare behind Jack.
Jack turns to see A NIGHTMARE staring through the window.
"And now we are trouble" groaned Bunny, with only Jack and Sandy awake and Jack not used to being in a team then something terrible was going to happen.