It was a bright and sunny day. The sun was just rising. The wind was blowing softly, caressing the leaves and spreading the scent of the flowers. The clouds parted, promising a rain free day. All the conditions were perfect for a wonderful Easter hunt. All the Burgess children had prepared for this day. Everyone was excited for the chance to try and see the Easter Bunny. Well, almost everyone was happy.
Pitch groaned. He hated that he had to let Bunnymund into the town. He had spotted the damn pooka the moment he exited out of his hole. He sneered as he stayed by the sidelines within the shadows.
The Guardians have been a huge problem. They were getting too close and now they were in the village. Oh, how he loathed that pooka. He hated him so much that he wanted to annihilate his very existence.
Pitch sighed as his nightmare whispered their reports. The Guardian was hiding his eggs. Pitch smirked slightly though. He doubted the pooka had enough time to make so many. By the looks of it, he only had two dozen or so. Pitch frowned. Jackson and Flee would be very disappointed if they can't find enough for the kids. Well, he can't have his own family upset. Jackson deserves better than that.
"Onyx."
"Yes, Master?" she asked as she appeared next to him.
"Gather NightStorm and Phoenix and go and create two baskets of Easter eggs. Make sure there is enough for every kid in the village. I know for a fact that Jackson would give it away if there is not enough for everyone."
"Yes, Master. We will place it in their room when we are done," she paused. Her tail flicked to the right and her head snapped in that direction. "Master, the rabbit is near the Prince's location!"
Oh no.
He was terribly sore from last nights battle. He barely got any sleep and the magic that flowed through the ground and trees weren't helping much. He was curious why a warning barrier was in place. But he didn't put much thought into it. There were kids nearby and he was horribly behind schedule.
Bunnymund gently motioned his Googies to their hiding places in bushes and behind trees with good cover from the grass. He hid behind a tree as he saw a group of children. One of the ankle-biters seemed to be sixteen or seventeen years old. Bunnymund smiled at the older ankle-bitter as he told the younger ones about the egg hunt and what spots they should look. The eight younger ankle-biters were very excited to start their search.
Bunnymund remained in his hiding place as the ankle-biters split up and searched the area. The corner of his mouth twitched into a smile. He really did love moments like this. Human children were so filled with hope and life. It was sad that these weren't his best Googies though.
"Jack look!" Bunnymund heard a young girl yell. Bunnymund decided to look in their direction as he opened a hole in the ground. However, he came up short with a gasp when he saw one of Pitch's nightmares trailing right behind the two ankle-biters.
Bunnymund reached for his boomerang in his holster. He didn't know why Pitch was attacking children during the day or attacking this village in general. But he did know that nightmare had to be destroyed. The ankle-biters were in danger.
Bunnymund glared at the nightmare. The horse shaped nightmare looked young. It was about the size of a baby horse that he seen humans ride on. Pitch must have just made it. Though why he didn't make it a regular size like the others, he wasn't sure. Nor did he care.
Bunnymund moved his arm back. He was ready to throw his boomerang when something strange happened. Bunnymund found himself being swirled around by magic. He grunted as he felt his energy and magic being drained.
Crikey! What is going?
And in that moment Bunnymund found himself surrounded by eight of Pitch's nightmares. Bunnymund was in more trouble than he thought. He didn't see Pitch anywhere, but that didn't stop the nightmares from attacking.
Bunnymund barely had time to dodge as he was attacked. Usually he would be able to take them, but now was not one of those times. Bunnymund grunted as one rammed him further into the woods. Bunnymund tried to defend himself. But with every second he was here, he felt his strength getting weaker and weaker. If he stayed any longer he would have been killed by the sand horses.
Bunnymund managed to avoid one of the horse's attacks and dived into his hole back to the Warren, closing it behind him. Bunnymund hated it, but he had no choice. He had to retreat and return with the others another day.
He frowned at the eggs. He and Flee only managed to find five eggs. You would have thought there would be more. Jackson studied the egg in his hand with a frown.
"The Easter Bunny couldn't have done this," Jamie replied as he studied the two eggs he found. The other kids agreed.
Jackson might have to agree. The eggs looked like they were rushed. The eggs were half finished and smudged in some places. The eggs didn't have a pretty picture of flowers or other pretty spring picture. Jackson knew the Easter Bunny was real. He was a Guardian and one of his brother's enemies, but…
He sighed as the second group came back. There were disappointed looks on their faces. Some of them didn't have any eggs. Jackson looked at his with a frown. How could the Easter Bunny do this? Didn't he care about them?
He could tell from their faces that they were doubting the Easter Bunny. He might only have five, but… "Here."
They looked at him with shock. "But, Jackson, that's yours," a young girl with blond hair replied.
"You take it, Lillian, and share it with the others. I don't mind."
"Thank you so much," Lillian and a few others replied.
Jackson nodded. "Why don't we come back and search a different area in two hours. Maybe the Easter Bunny will come back." Some of the kids looked uncertain but agreed anyway. It would be fun to look.
Pitch saw the disappointed looks on the children's faces when they decided to take a break. Jackson plastered a cheerful smile on this face, but he knew Jackson was disappointed too. He was right to gather his own baskets for him.
He waited until Jackson was in hearing distance before he talked to him. "Are you okay?"
Jackson sighed, keeping an eye on the disappointed children. "There weren't that many. They couldn't be from the Easter Bunny. They seemed rushed."
"I'm sure he didn't have enough time," Pitch commented.
"Koz?" Pitch looked at him. He frowned at the troubled look on his features. Night began nuzzling his cheek.
"What's wrong Jackson?"
"I saw him," Jackson smiled softly at his sister as she held his hand. "I heard a noise when we found an egg. When I looked up I saw him with a boomerang."
"He could have hit us," Flee mumbled fearfully.
Pitch stiffened as he held back a curse. Were they scared now? He was afraid of this. "I'm glad your nightmares saved us though, so thank you."
Pitch nodded. As much as he hated the Guardians, he couldn't stand the sadness and fear he was getting from them. He bit his lip as he thought about a way to help them.
"You know he's not really a rabbit."
The two children looked at him. "Huh?"
"He has an Australian accent and is very tall too." He smirked at the children. "He's more of a Kangaroo than a Bunny."
Jackson barked out a laugh. "A kangaroo?"
"That thing doesn't have a pouch though," Flee commented, but did laugh along with her brother and Night.
"But an Easter Kangaroo?" Jackson continued to laugh, not caring who saw.
Ah, much better.
Jackson was dumbfounded. On his bed were two baskets of Easter eggs. Each egg were beautifully decorated with horses and rabbits. Many of them were plain, but they sparked when light touched them. Jackson wasn't sure how, but they did.
"Are those for us?" Flee asked. He nodded. Flee smiled and looked through them. "Looks like we don't need the Easter Kangaroo. There's more than enough for us and the others."
Flee turned to him with a smile. Looks like Easter wasn't so bad after all. Who needs the Easter Bunny when they have family.
"Let's go to the others," he told her as he grabbed one of the baskets. Flee grabbed her basket and ran out of the room. Jackson followed, but stopped near a shadow. He stared at it for a moment before a grateful smile formed on his face.
"I don't know how you did it, but thank you. Thank you for saving Easter for us." Jackson looked at the eggs. "I know you are fighting the Guardians and that many might see you as evil and stuff." He looked back up with tears in his eyes.
"But you're not. You care about me and Flee. You care about my friends and this village. You might hate them, but to me you are a true Guardian. You're my Guardian, Koz."
Jackson turned away from the shadow and began to walk away. "I love you."