Chapter 6
Keeping hope
North kicked open the door of his office as the five remaining spirits came out of it, following him after he had picked up his furry coat for leaving. They followed him through the workshop and towards the ice tunnels where his sleigh was waiting for them.
''Bunny's rright ! As much as it pains me to say, old frriend…''
He kicked open the door of the elevator, taking a pause that caught the rabbit's attention as well as the others'.
''Zis time Easter iz morre imporrtant than Chrristmas.''
Tooth seemed surprised in a good way while Aster's jaw dropped open. The spring spirit wanted to make sure everyone heard.
''Hey, did anyone heard that ?''
Jack chuckled at that while Hiccup finally got a theory from where was coming this unstoppable competition between North and Aster, it seemed like it was actually a competition between their holidays. Aster bounced out of the elevator and quickly caught up with the big man, the other trying to follow suite.
''We must hurry to the Warren. Everryone to the sleigh !''
''Oh no, mate. My Warren, my rules. Buckle up.''
The rabbit made sure everyone was close enough, then he stomped two times on the floor.
''Shostakovitch !'' North exclaimed as a tunnel formed right under them.
North, Hiccup, Jack as well as two yetis and some of the elves instantly fell in it. Tooth would have escaped this if only North had not grabbed her ankle in try to hold on to something. Aster took a second to laugh at them, then he jumped after them. While running and bouncing along the stone and grass-and-moss-covered tunnels, he could hear all the noises made by the group. The yetis were howling and barbling in panic, North was screaming in a mixture of surprise and discomfort, Tooth's wings were whirring, a dragon roar almost covered it all but Aster couldn't say if his friend was panicking or amused. The sound that stood out the most was a crystal clear childish laughter mixed with joyful exclaimed. Visibly, at least one of them was having great fun.
The rabbit sped up and took another tunnel so he could get there before them and witness their arrival. He held back a snort as North slipped and turned on his ass, still holding Tooth by the ankle, then he saw a dark, auburn dragon slidding in all four while Jack had climbed on his back and was raising arms and guffawing as if all of this was nothing but a game. The rabbit kept on getting ahead and, when he finally reached his domain, he stood before the entrance where he knew his friends were coming.
He waited a bit before he could hear them again, and he was already smirking. Hiccup was the first one to arrive. He was thrown in the air but outstretched his wings to plane, slow down and land safely. Jack jumped from his back and landed lightly and gracefully, like a leaf on the surface of a pond. North, the yetis and the elves sprawled heavily on the ground while Tooth managed to slow down beside them, she shook her head in try to sooth a slight dizziness. Santa Claus sat up and laughed.
''Ha ha 'buckle up', iz verry funny.''
They stood up and looked around, taking in the sight of this place they were seeing for the first time. Everything was green in luxurious vegetation, colorful flowers adding even more warmth to the landscape. Giant stone eggs with legs slowly approached, covered with carvings and moss. Two of them stood from each side of the bunny, like guards that came to welcome them or check out for any threat.
''Welcome ta the Warren.'' Aster claimed.
Hiccup was about to make a sassy retort, saying this was the first time Aster actually invited him to his place, but the Guardian of Hope's smile dropped and his ears twitched. He turned around and started to sniff the air, his stature tensed.
''Something's up.'' He stated, looking intently at another tunnel.
A myriad of white little eggs toppled out of it, as if fleeing from a danger.
Aster took out his boomerangs while a high-pitched sound was echoing within the tunnel, so the five spirits readied themselves for a fight. Around them, four egg guards backed them up, and Hiccup noticed the upper part turned around. In the back of the eggs was carved an angry warrior face, and it turned so the smiling welcoming face was now behind, the menacing one in front.
If the situation was not that grave, the viking would have laughed of that, the eggs almost looked like giant stone toys. Aster let out a war cry, quickly followed by North, and all of them attacked. They were all running to the tunnel, by they ended up stopping in a hurry as a small silhouette came out of it. The high-pitched hissing they had heard was not a nightmare neigh, it was an hysterical squeak from this tiny little girl, who stopped too in front of them.
The blond-haired toddler was dressed in her pyjamas, two sparkling plastic fairy wings tied on her back, three squirming eggs in her arms. The squeak died out in her throat as she gazed up to the spirits, mouth agape.
''Sophie ?'' Jack asked.
Realising there was no danger, the spirits quickly withdrew their weapons and put on smiles for her.
She blinked, then a huge smile spread on her face and she dropped the eggs to chase after one of North's elves, who quickly ran away.
''Ding ding ding !'' She chirped.
''What is she doin' here ?!'' Aster hissed to North.
The bearded man thought about it, then he patted his pockets as the explanation struck.
''Huh… Snow globe.''
One of the two yetis grumbled at him but only North understood the words, still the others knew this was scolding.
''Crickey, somebody do somethin' !''
Aster looked at Hiccup and Jack. One shrugged with an akward smile while the other lifted his hands in an innocent way.
''Don't look at me like this,'' Jack said. ''She doesn't even see me.''
A giggle from the girl made them focus back on her, only to see her drag the poor elf on the floor, pulling at its bonnet.
''Elf ! Elf ! Elf !''
Aster froze while Jack chuckled.
''Don't worry, Bunny.'' Tooth said. ''I bet she's a fairy fan.''
She flew around the little girl, successfully distracting her from the elf. Sophie looked up to her with eyes full of wonder.
''It's okay, little one.''
''Pwetty !''
Tooth melted from such cuteness, then she scooted closer with a renewed smile, her feathers bristling with excitment. She outstretched her hands, closed around something no one could see.
''You know what ? I've got something for you.''
Sophie smiled and stared with avidity to the small closed hands, but when the fairy opened them and revealed what was in her palms, Sophie froze seeing five teeth.
''Here it is ! Look at all the pretty teeth ! With little blood and gum on them !''
Silence lasted for a moment, then Sophie wailed and cried before running away. Tooth backed up with confusion while Jack laughed.
''Blood and gums ?'' He teased.
Hiccup held back a chuckle at Tooth's puzzled face, then all of them stared at the winter spirit as he flew to perch himself on top of a toppled egg statue. Sophie was at the foot of it, bending and trying to coax out the egglets hiding in the carved mouth. Looked like the teeth were already forgotten by the toddler as she was laughing again.
''When was the last time you guys actually hung out with kids ?''
''Pick-a-boo !'' Sophie shouted.
The egglets swarmed out, making her giggle, and Jack chuckled. Aster took a cautious step forward and made gestures for his eggs to take shelter behind him, while North was trying to justify the Guardians. Hiccup had immense troubles not to laugh at this ridiculous situation. The youngest spirit of the group was actually lecturing the Guardians on a subject they were supposed to master.
''We arre verry busy brringing joy to childrren, we don't have time forr… forr childrren ?''
Just as North said that, he realised it made no sense, Tooth and Aster too, actually. Meanwhile Sophie was still giggling and playing around with everything she could find, including butterflies she started to chase. Hiccup shook his head, somewhere deep inside he was glad to have to look after dragons and not children, this work seemed way more difficult and exhausting.
''If only one little kid can ruin Easter, then we're in worst shape than I thought.'' Jack smirked.
He slipped down from his perch and, with a graceful twirl of his slim hand, he created a sparkling magical snowflake, then blew it towards the over-excited little girl. She marveled at it and ran after it, making the snowflake change direction towards the rabbit. It landed and exploded on Aster's nose, blueish ice sparks slowly vanishing but filling his eyes with something else. The rabbit smiled as he felt a bubbling sensation build up inside of him.
Suddenly, he felt more enthusiastic, energic, joyful, and he offered a visit of the Warren to the little girl, while they were preparing Easter. They went deeper into the Warren filled with spring vegetation and flowers, millions of eggs gathering around them. Aster decided to show Sophie the whole preparations, and it started with beautiful red and yellow tulips.
Aster spotted a bigger one and coaxed Sophie to get closer, so they could see it bloom and reveal the small white egglet that was inside. It had just born.
''Wanna paint some eggs, yeah ?''
''Oh okay !''
''C'mon, then.''
The freshly hatched eggs joined the rest of the group that was forming a river, slaloming among the green hills where the oter spirits perched on top so they would not crush anything.
''Rimsky-Korsakov !'' North exclaimed. ''Zat's a lot of eggs !''
''Huh, how much time do we have ?'' Jack asked, crouched on top of his staff.
''I get you needed some help'' Hiccup said to his friend, ''but with this much eggs, we need to recruit more than two of North's yetis.''
Aster smirked at that, then he took Sophie for a piggy-ride on his back. Under the other's worried gaze, he bounced and ran ahead of the eggs and led them in a corridor full of blue bell-like flowers. As he ran through them and shook them, they started to blow colorful mist on the eggs. It was pretty efficient except for the fact it was only plain colour.
''Alrigh' troops, it's time ta push back. That means eggs everywhere ! Tons of ya in every street, farm house and trail parks ! Into the shoes, cereal bowls ! Oh, there'll be baths filled with my beautiful googies !''
The eggs kept on following the path and went through other tunnels until they reached a river with purple color and rainbow highlights. An elf followed them and sneak behind one of them to push it into the river, making fun of it despite the disapproval glare from Hiccup, though karma struck becore the wave of eggs came along pushed the red-dressed little creature. All of them dove into the liquid rainbow and got covered with additionnal hues. North picked one up and took a closer look at the tiny feet sqiurming around.
''Okay, zat's… a little strrange.''
''No mate, that's adorable.'' Aster countered, hugging and petting a bunch of colorful egglets.
North put the egg down down and watched as his elf pulled out of the river, as colorful as a blenched rainbow. Even its tongue had been colored, which turned its disgusted grimace into a delighted grin. It lightly pushed the orange, pink and purple egg, but this time it did it as if it was its best buddy. Hiccup stopped on top of another rock and watched as Sophie danced and walked in front of the eggs, acting as if she was leading them, while Aster was still keeping an eye on all these preparations, making sure to turn it into a show for his guests.
''There will be spring time on ev'ry continent ! An' I'm bringing hope with me !''
Tooth analyzed the process and followed the eggs' progress. Now they were all painted with at least three different hues, there still seemed to be something missing. It took a bit of time for the fairy to get it, but she found out as she saw Jack floating above the eggs, some light reflecting on the frost patterns of his hoodie. Patterns ! That's what the eggs were missing ! At every gathering of the Big Four where Aster had been bringing eggs he was working on, he had been adding patterns on them. She smiled as she wondered how they would paint those on some many eggs.
After passing a small bridge and following a path that didn't gave them time to dry, the eggs started to climb along vines and followed them until they reached the end. It was forming some kind of springs covered with dried paint. Tooth realised why even before the eggs went through the springs. It was these plants that left beautiful patterns as the eggs brushed against it. The colored elf seemed to think it was an egg and decided to take the same path, slipping through a spring, leaving it with unique, swirling patterns all over its body.
Meanwhile, both yetis were working, one of them keeping an eye on the traveling egglets while the other, using a brush from the North Pole, had started to hand paint the eggs. When Aster noticed it, he gave a closer look to the red egg he was currently working on and frowned.
''Too Christmassy mate, paint 'em blue.''
He bounced away without further word, but the yeti protested and gargled angrily. Indeed, Aster had not noticed the two pyramids of red eggs the yeti had already finished and piled neatly.
The rabbit ended up under a tall and large egg-shape arcade where he met Sophie.
''Ooh, what's over there ?'' He asked as a egglet was coming over them.
As Sophie spotted him, she bounced and giggled. She didn't wait to pick it up and bring him back to Aster. The result was really neat. Pink, orange were mixed with blue floral patterns, turning the egg into a smooth and colorful piece of art.
''That's a beauty ! Now, all we need ta do is get 'im an' his little mates through the tunnels ta the top, an' have ourselves Easter.''
He took her hand and he guided her through the arcade, then he crouched down as they looked over what looked like an ancient theatre. Except that, instead of seats for spectator, it was surrounded by entrances to countless tunnels, leading all around the world. Sophie was still craddling her egg in her arms as she stared mouth agape at all the other colorful treats dispersing through the tunnels.
The other spirits gathered behind them and Jack crouched down next to the little girl, though she couldn't see him and was too focused on the eggs anyway.
''Not bad.'' The winter spirit praised.
''Not bad yarself.'' Aster complimented back.
Aster had to admit it, the bubbling effects of Jack's magic had felt good, so the usual stressed bunny felt lighter and in a good mood.
As the little girl yawned and settled on Aster's knees to take a nap, the two spirits were still smiling to each other. Hiccup smiled too as he looked at them. Visibly, Jack seemed to be a mischievous spirit who wanted to play around and have fun, and this urge was extended into his magic. It was just what Aster needed to get himself out of his stressful overwork. The dragon spirit's smile faltered as he glanced at the white-haired boy.
He felt a weight form in his chest as he couldn't help but think back to the past. No doubts the Gardian of Hope was influencing him, because he could feel this hope grow within him. He couldn't hope. It would only make him suffer even more. The memories Jack was bringing up in him were just that. Memories. It didn't mean anything, it was just a coincidence if Jack looked like him.
Tooth landed on the other side of Aster and looked down with awe to the napping little girl.
''Oh, poor little ankle-bitter. Look at her, all tuckered out.''
''I love her.'' Tooth cooed. ''I think it's time to get her home.''
''How about I take her home ?'' Jack offered.
The others gave him a look, Aster was much sceptical about that, but Tooth was the one to speak it.
''Jack, no. You forget she doesn't… She doesn't believe in you.''
If her tone had been scolding at the beginning of his sentence, it quickly soothed down. She didn't want to hurt his feelings, and Jack knew that, but he had to admit she had a point. A spirit couldn't interact with a child that didn't believe.
Yet Hiccup knew a little bit more about that.
''She's asleep. In that case, the child believing in magic is enough.''
''Rreally ?'' North asked.
''If you get a bit of help, yeah. Here, look.''
The viking carefully picked up the napping girl in his arms. Then he used his magic. It didn't take the shape of red flames sprouting on his shoulders, but a soft warm glow emitting from all along his arms and around Sophie. She smiled in her sleep and snuggled against the spirit.
Then he turned to Jack and placed her in his arms. Jack startled and panicked as he was expecting the girl to fall through his arms, which explained why his eyes widdened when she remained in place.
''See ?'' The viking smiled.
Jack grinned back.
''She's heavier than I thought.''
''Still, we can't let you go alone.'' Tooth insisted, her voice sounded like a worried mother. ''Pitch is out there-''
''He's no match for this.'' The winter spirit said as he nodded to his staff.
The others got puzzled as they stared at the wooden branch, still they understood he was talking about his powers.
''Which is why we need ya here, with us.'' Aster assured.
''We can handle this with the fourth of us for a bit, don't worry.'' Hiccup reassured. ''Let him take the girl home.''
It was the fire spirit who finally convinced the Guardians, much to Jack's delight. He didn't say anything, but he really appreciated the viking to step up for him.
''I'll be quick as a bunny.'' The white-haired boy promised and winked to Aster.
The rabbit snorted at that.