Rampant Rabbit
By End of grace
Thanks again for all the reviews, You guys are amazing. I don't own Rise of the guardians or the books. I would also point out that I have not read the books and any information I use, I have gotten from .
Chapter 11
The small cafe was quite, as it always was in the morning, but it suited the Chief fine. He was holding her phone in his wrinkled hand, again wondering and cursing himself over her fate. A young waitress came over and poured him a fresh cup of coffee, and gave him a sad smile. He tried to smile back but the lump in his throat wouldn't let him. He placed his hands around the cup just to give them something else to do, other than looking at her phone. A radio was playing in the background, he wasn't really listening but his ears pricked up when the news was being read out.
"The police are being congratulated on bring down organisation B.A.N.K the other day in one of the biggest sting operations ever to be done. In related news, we're sorry to report that leading detective Holly Layton was killed when trying to arrest one of the mafia leaders, one Joseph Markowitz. Markowitz is now being held in police custody"
The Chief gritted his teeth, congratulated huh? A cop, a good cop was dead. A cop who actually bought the information of B.A.N.K to him and what did he do? Called her a traitor ,turned his back on her and in trying to clear her name ends up getting killed. He remembered getting the call from the hospital and could barely keep his emotions in check when he saw Markowitz simply sitting there calmly as if he had done no wrong. The doctor had handed him Holly's bag that only held her phone and her badge, nothing unusual for Holly. He flipped her phone open and looked at the last numbers. It didn't surprise him that Holly had contacted Pitch but who was this North character? He vaguely remembered her mentioning him as the friend she was staying with, which was odd in itself, for he knew Holly had no one outside the station. Something big happened to Holly the last week, coming in with information like that? A boyfriend? And not forgetting the whole thing she had going on with the Pitch Black, who had mysteriously vanished from the world without a trace. He wanted answers and there was the matter of her funeral as well, so he rang North and arranged a meeting. The cafe door swung open and a large built man in a red shirt and white hair and beard stepped in, followed quickly by a slightly young man, who could easily pass for a model or a lawyer if his suite was anything to go by. Both looked around and cast they eyes on him before approaching. He stood up with his arm extended.
"Mr North?" he asked as the older man gasped his hand and shook it. "I'm sorry we have to met in these circumstances"
The older man nodded but said nothing as he slid in to a free seat, the other man offered his hand as well, and they shook.
"I'm Bunnymund, I'm North's partner. What did you want to see North about, you didn't really say"
Both of them sat down, and the chief took a moment to study their faces. Both looked as if they hadn't slept all night and on the verge of tears. Mr Bunnymund was clearly trying to keep his composure and act as a buffer for Mr North who looked as if he would break down in tears at the slightest word.
"I needed to speak to you about Holly. Forgive me for asking this, but I've known Holly since the police academy and she has never mentioned you"
North reached in to his shirt pocket and pulled out two pictures and handed them to the Chief. One was of him at Holly police graduation and the other was of her as a small child.
"I have known Holly since she was small. I should have adopted..." North took a moment to compose himself as Bunny place a hand on his arm. "But I did not. We wrote to each other, and were close. We met up every Christmas to chat and such. After Holly's flat had been raided..."
"Raided? When?" the chief asked, as Holly had not mention a break in.
"Her apartment was broken in to and smashed up. She thought it might have been the contractors trying to get her out quicker. She still has quite a bit at North's place though." explained Bunnymund, rubbing North's arm. The Chief felt his head spinning like crazy as he handed the pictures back, there he was thinking that he was the only thing that Holly had to a father figure and here was a man who practically was.
"That's kind of what I need to talk to you about, plus what is going on with Holly's funeral and such. Being a cop meant you were always in some kind of danger, and Holly well..."
"Yes, we know" smirked Bunnymund thinking of the cut on her face that she got from protecting Sandy.
"Well she had a will. One of the things on it was about her "Father Christmas collection" you must have seen it"
Bunnymund looked slightly confused but North chuckles "Yes, I have seen, quite impressive."
"Well me and the guys at the station always got her a new one each year for Christmas, and she stated in her will that each of us can take one of her Santa's in memory of her, and the rest are to be donated at a children's home. Her dvds and cds are to go to one of our tech guys, turns out that they had the same tastes. Everything else is to be donated or throw away"
"Throw away?" muttered North looking slightly upset of the thought of throwing Holly's possession way.
"We will see that her things are bought to the station sir, is there anything else?" said Bunnymund impatiently. "North and I have something very important going on this afternoon"
The chief snorted and sat up straight "Alright here's the thing. You, North, were the last person to speak to Holly when she was alive. Did she say anything to you about a man called Pitch?"
A faint shadow past though North's face and Bunnymund quickly grabbed his hand under the table.
"She rang, she was upset. Said that Markowitz had tricked her. It was hard to make out" Said North thickly as he pushed back his anger and tears. The Chief could see there was more to the story but decided to let it go. The old man clearly loved Holly and probably wanted to put the matter to rest as fast as he did.
"You might not want to hear this, but she mentioned you before she died"
Both Bunnymund and North looked confused, and the Chief rubbed his face and sighed.
" She had lost to much blood, most of it was filling her lungs. She was conscious for a few minutes before they tried to operate, just enough to get something out. It doesn't make much sense and I wasn't going to tell you, but it might be important."
He told them Holly last words and watched their faces go from shock to confused and then to sadness. He wasn't sure if they understood it, but in a small way he guessed it didn't matter.
"Well the official story is that Holly was the one leading the whole operation, and died a hero. She'll be buried with honour, as she deserves. I can send you the time and place of her funeral if you want?"
"Thank you, but that will not be needed. We are holding a small wake for her at our home with our friends that knew her. If that is all..." said North as he stood up, Bunnymund following him. The Chief nodded his goodbyes, shook they hands again and watched them leave. He sat back down and shook his head. Trust Holly to find people as odd as she was he thought as he reopened her phone. He scrawled down the numbers only to find that both North's and Pitch's numbers had disappeared.
"What the hell?"
Bunnymund step out of the vortex and was surprised to find they were in the warren and not back at the pole. He looked over at North in his human foam and noticed that the older spirit had a faraway look in his eyes. It had been a long day and half, and it seemed all surreal. After seeing Holly on the floor, covered in blood, they had tried to pick her up but their hands went though her. Luckily a doctor and nurse had heard the gun shot and came to Holly's aid. The doctor performed CPR and for a few moments Holly started to breathe again. She opened her eyes and saw the doctor, Pitch and the guardians all staring down at her. She smiled, turning to Pitch and tried to raise her hand.
"Pitch...sorry.."
Pitch nodded and he tried to take Holly's hand but she was so close to death now, that his hand went right though hers, the doctor took it and brushed her hair away from her eyes.
"Don't talk. Keep your strength!" he said as he and a orderly lifted her on to the gurney.
"North..." she muttered as blood spilling from her mouth.
The doctors quickly took her the operation theatre to try and save her. There was a collected sigh of relief between the guardians and Pitch who had not moved from Holly's side. Jack Frost noticing how unguarded Pitch was, took the handcuffs that North bought with him and went towards the nightmare king only to be stopped by Sandy. Sandy took the cuffs and showed them to Pitch. Pitch looked like he was going to argue maybe even run, but the sad look on Sandy's face made him stop. A wordless conversation passed between them and Pitch nodded as he turned around and allowed Sandy to handcuff him. These handcuffs were donned with magical runes that stopped Pitch from using his magic. Once they were on, Sandy leaned against Pitch's body, trying to hold back his tears. Hospital security were in the room now talking to Markowitz's who was calmly telling them about how and why he shot the policewoman.
North shook his head in disgust of the man and said to Bunny "Lets follow the doctors and make sure Holly is alright. Sandy, Jack, take...take him to the pole. There are cells in the basement floor to hold him there"
"North please. Please I need to stay! I need to..." Pitch begged but North rounded on him like a fury.
"YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO STAY" shouted North his face red with anger "YOU ARE THE REASON SHE IS IN THIS MESS! SHE DIES...so do you"
The last part was spoken softy but Pitch knew North meant it and he nodded. North handed Jack the snow globe.
"Once Pitch is locked up, summon Tooth and tell her what is going on. Then come back to pick me and Bunnymund up. We should know about Holly's condition by then."
Jack nodded as he and Sandy escorted Pitch thought the portal leaving the winter spirit and Easter Bunny. They walked though the corridors following the sighs before standing outside one of three operation rooms, with a small reception area to the side. Save one nurse at the desk, Bunny and North were on their own.
"Should we go in?" asked Bunny pointing to the door. North shook his head and sat down on one of the spare seats.
"I don't think I could face it" he muttered "So much blood...she..."
"Hey, she's a tough girl, she'll pull though" Even as he said it Bunny knew how false his words sounded. He sat down next to North allowing him to lean on him as they waited. Time passed as the doors on the other side of the room swung open and a small haggard looking man ran in and went straight to the reception desk, flashing a police badge.
"I was told one of my officers was here. She has been shot? has there been any word?" he rambled.
"Please sir, clam yourself" said the nurse "She went in about hour or so ago, she was in a bad way, bleeding badly. If you take a seat, the doctor will come and tell you any news once he is free. Until then could I give you some forms to fill in?"
The chief took the foams and sat down, not seeing Bunnymund or North as he did so. He started to fill it in as Bunny peered over his shoulder.
"And I thought the paperwork at the pole was bad" he muttered, North gave a weak chuckle. The doors to the theatre open slowly and a doctor walked out, his scrubs splattered with blood. He walked over to the chief, as he stood up as did Bunny and North.
"Are you the next of kin?" he asked
"No, she's doesn't have any family, she's an orphan. I'm her employer and the chief of police. How is she?"
"I'm very sorry sir, but the young woman died a few minutes ago. The bullets pieced her lung and intestine, flooding them both. Since you are here would you mind identifying the body for me?"
The chief followed the doctor leaving North and Bunny there in silence and in shock. North let out a roar of grief as he drew his swords and began slashing them about against the furniture, of course being invisible made no damaged. Bunny watched his lover rage on, knowing nothing he could say would calm him, so he wrapped his paws around himself and hugged tightly as the tears started to fall. North almost tripped on his coat and Bunny quickly caught him. North dropped his swords and wrapped himself around Bunny, holding him as if he were a lifeline as he sobbed uncontrollably. It was shortly after that, Jack returned to pick them up, as Holly body was wheeled out of the theatre covered in a white cloth. They retuned back to the pole, the sad news quickly spread as well as the news of Pitch's capture. North had spent the rest of the evening in his study with a large glass of vodka and Bunnymund in his lap, both grieving in silence. Tooth sat with Jack in his room, as the boy cried on her shoulder. Deep in the bowels of the pole, sat behind bars was Pitch and Sandy, holding each other tightly to scared to let the other go in case they too would disappear. When the phone rang in the morning, North was startled that it was Holly's number and thinking some miracle had happened, answered it. That is how they ended up talking to the chief of police in their human forms, North had wanted to go on his own but Bunny insisted he went also, for support.
Now back at the warren North looked as if he had the world on his shoulders and no way of lifting the burden.
"North...why are we here?" Bunny asked, not minding that they were at his home but they were really needed at the pole.
"I don't want to go back...I have to face him...just not yet..."
"Your thinking of Holly's last words?"
"I do not think I can do it. I don't want to do it" spat North as he walked down the path towards Bunnymund's home. Bunny caught up and walked beside him, North taking his hand in his as they walked. North looked around the green landscape, bright colour flowers were everywhere. Out of their two homes he felt that Bunny's home was the most beautiful. Maybe they could pick some flowers to lay by the candle they were going to light in Holly's memory later, he knew she liked flowers. Bunny led them in to his home and shut the door.
"Do you want a cuppa? I'll..."
North suddenly spun him around, holding his waist tightly as he kissed him, his tongue licking his lips and teeth. His large hands made quick work of undoing his human clothes, which vanished as they left his skin. North's hand ran though the dark hair and cradled his head, as he pushed deeper in to Bunny's mouth bruising his human lips. It felt wrong doing this, and a large part of Bunnymund wanted to stop his love from continuing, but the sad, needing look in North's eyes made him relent. North needed comfort right now, needed something to keep him going for the next few hours, before all the other leaders arrived for the wake and trail of Pitch. North mouth travelled down his neck and on to his shoulders, trailing kisses as Bunny stated to undo North's shirt. North was shrugged his shirt off, taking Bunny's mouth back in his, as Bunny's human hands rubbed his chest, pulling at his nipple rings. North pulled him down to the rug, laying him down as he undid his trousers. Like the shirt, as soon as the shoes and trousers were no longer in contract with Bunny they disappeared, leaving him completely naked on the rug. North quickly took off his own and laid on top of Bunny, rubbing his body against his. They started to fondle each other, they cocks rubbing against each other, both gasping and moaning. Bunny wrapped his legs around North's waist, as North started to pick up the pace, his arms sliding up and down North's back. Kisses were intense, sucking and biting as they wrestled their tongues. The heat from their bodies helped build the pressure in their loins as they pumped and grinded against each other. They both soon released, covering each other in the sticky mess. Panting North reached down and undid Bunny's bracelet and for a moment it looked like he was on his own, before taking off his own. Beneath him taking large gasps of air, Bunny's rested his head against North's shoulder feeling exhausted, as he gently patted North's back feeling their cum rubbing in to his fur. North sat up and stroked Bunny's face, looking lovingly in to his green eyes.
"Your human form is beautiful Bunny, but like this your magnificent"
Bunny felt himself blush at the complement "Keep talking like that mate and I'll start getting an ego"
Large drops of water fell on Bunnymund's face as he looked up at North, seeing them fall.
"It's so strange...I don't know why...I can't make them stop"
"I wouldn't ask you to mate. Just let it go" said Bunny softly as he took North in his arms and allowed his lover to cry in to his fur.
Time was slowly passing at the pole, and eerie quite had draped itself over the fortress. The yeti set up a large table covered in a black cloth with small candles burning on it with a large picture of Holly in a crystal frame in its centre. In another room, a large table was set up with five chairs behind it, covered in red cloth, a hammer and gravel where placed by the middle seat. Opposite that various chairs of sizes where being placed around in a semi circle while two yetis nailed to hooped nails in to the floor, to hold the chains that Pitch would be held in. North slowly walked down the corridors long forgotten in the hundreds of years since this place was built. The large cobwebs covered the ceiling and the walls as he walked down to the cells. He footsteps felt so heavy, he wanted nothing more than to turn around and leave the king of nightmares down here to rot, but that wasn't the right thing to do and even Pitch had the right to a fair trial. He stood before the cell, two single candles were burning outside of it, giving out a little light. Sandy was still sitting next to Pitch holding his hand, leaning in to his side. He quickly sat up when he saw North and was slightly relived to see him unarmed. North opened the cell door and stepped in, Pitch did not seem to care as he kept his eyes down.
"Sandy...Pitch. I would like to talk to you"
Pitch looked up and nodded, slowly getting to his feet, Sandy stood on the bench they had been sitting on so he stood almost shoulder to shoulder to Pitch. North tried to keep his eyes on Sandy and not look at Pitch, but this eyes would wonder on the tall dark figure.
"We are holding Holly's wake in half hour, if you wish you go Pitch say so now and we will arranged for you to have a few minutes before going to the trail"
"I would like that" Pitch muttered as Sandy created an image of Pitch in the stand. North shook his head.
"No one wanted to speak for him Sandy, and you cannot blame them for that"
Sandy jabbed his finger to himself and then to Pitch and nodded, both Pitch and North were shocked.
"Sandy I don't think that is a good idea" said Pitch tightening his hold on his hand. "It will not do for one of the guardians to stand with the boogieman."
Sandy shook his head and continued to stand with Pitch and North frowned.
"We'll will have to pick someone to take your place in our stand with us, is that alright with you?" said North. Sandy nodded and pointed to a heart floating above his head.
"Cupid?"
Sandy shock his head a crown appearing above his heart and Pitch nodded. "He means Aphrodite, she is as old as Sandy and is unbiased"
North nodded "Sandy...I would like to speak to Pitch alone please?"
Sandy looked a bit worried but nodded as he floated up and kissed Pitch on the cheek. North waited until Sandy was out of sight before stepping closer to Pitch.
"What now North? Oh, you wish me to perform my last confession to you of any other crimes I may have committed? Or just maybe you wish me to beg for forgiveness?" Pitch sneered at the guardian of wonder as he sat back down on the bench.
"I want none of those things. I want you to tell me in your own words what you truly feel for Holly"
Pitch's face went blank as he stared down at the floor as he answered softly "Does it really matter now?"
"Does it matter? OF COURSE IT MATTERS!" shouted North jabbing his finger in Pitch's direction. "She's dead and gone because of you"
"Because of me? I wasn't the one that shot her North! I wasn't the one that got her involved in all this? Beside I know what this is really about?"
"What?"
"You need someone to blame. After all it wasn't you that got Holly involved in all this. It wasn't you that left her in a place that treated her like dirt. It wasn't you that left her there with a half baked promise of adopting her. It wasn't your fault that she asked for something you could never give her. It wasn't your fault that she grew up all alone"
North grabbed Pitch by the fount and shook him violently.
"I did not get her involved in this! I would never hurt her like that! I would never..." North's voice became horse as tears again threaten to fall as he pushed Pitch away, letting him fall to the floor his chains rattling heavily. He did not want to admit that Pitch was right, but he was, as Holly's childhood letters had been full of children picking on her and neglecting adults. And he, the one that Holly believed in so strongly, had kept his distance and had turned away from her need. Shaking the negative thoughts away he turned back to Pitch.
"Holly spoke about giving you a chance, saying you were good guy. So tell me Pitch how do you really feel about Holly?"
Pitch rubbed his neck and looked up at North for a moment before sighing and looking back on the ground.
"When I met Holly, it struck me how well she understood loneliness as well as fear. I felt a kindred spirit in her and then later, when she said she believed in me, a felt a deep warmth. I have never felt like that before, I felt as if I felt the rush I would get from scaring hundreds of children in one hit from her. Then she smile at me, and that warmth spread and I couldn't let go...I didn't want to let go"
"Holly...she was your first...your first believer" said North in wonder "That is why you were so strong even at the hospital before she..."
Both spirits went silent, not sure of what to say, as Pitch raised to his feet brushing himself down as he did so.
"I believe you got your answer now North, now may I ask you to leave please? I'd like a few minutes alone before I face my juries."
North nodded as he left the cell, slamming the door shut behind him. "The yetis will come and get you when its time"
He walked away, pretending that he did not hear the boogieman weep.
The leaders were standing in small groups as North arrived in full gap, many giving him polite nods in greeting as he past. The table that held Holly picture was now covered in flowers that they had bought to show there respects. Everyone had a black armband tied to their arms, and had been handed a glass of wine when they entered. Bunnymund was standing with Jack and the other guardians as North approached them, taking a glass from one of the yetis. He rubbed Jack's head gently and kissed Bunny on the cheek as he turned to the others.
"Friends, comrades and fellow leaders, thank you for coming. I wish the circumstances were happier. Pitch has been caught as you know, and the site that was causing the belief in us to vanish has now been closed and erased. The years ahead will be hard on all of us, trying to rebuild our holidays and the humans faith in us. Even more so, since we lost one of our strongest believers, who died trying to help us and save a child as well" North raise his glass in the air "To Holly"
Everyone raised their glasses as well "To Holly"
Sandy looked at Holly picture as the other leaders slowly went in to the other room. His heart felt heavy seeing that warm smile, his finger tips tracing it over the glass. The last week and more had been a wonderful dream, sweet, gentle and passionate. All the things Holly was and more. He felt his sandy tears stinging his eyes as he continued to look at her picture. He raised his glass to her again and drained it, before wiping his face, putting it in to a serious expression. He had lost one love, and he was determined not to lose another without a fight. He floated in to the room as the yetis closed the door behind him. It was quite for a moment then the yetis allowed Pitch to walk in, arms bound in chains as was his waist, chains that circled him and where being held tight by two yetis following him. Another yeti offered him a glass of wine as he walked up to the table. Pitch said nothing as he took it, eyes firmly locked on the picture that seemed to mock him with its smile. He traced the outline of her face and sighed.
"You're always be remembered for your smile Holly. But I will remember you best for that look you give when your mind is made up, your eyes sparkling with determination and fear. Bright and living. I've forgiven you for your deceit but I wonder Holly if you would forgive me for my part in your death, it's quite clear that your family will not"
He raised his glassed and then drank, enjoying the cold texture of the wine down his throat. He gave the glass back and turned to the door, and waited to be allowed in, as others decided his fate.
Everyone was taking their seats when North walked up to Aphrodite and tapped her on the shoulder.
"North? What's wrong?" she asked looking at his solemn face.
"Sandy has chosen to speak in Pitch's defence as such we are now a judge short. He has volunteered your to take his place, will you except?"
Aphrodite's jaw dropped and then she bit her lip. It was considered an honour to stand with the guardians but other than her son Cupid, only she knew how much of this was really Man in the Moon's doing.
"I'll accept North" as she took his hand as he led her to her new seat behind the grand table. The other leader's raise an eyebrows but said nothing as she took her place. North took the middle seat, with Bunnymund and Aphrodite to his left and Tooth and Jack to his right. North tapped the gavel twice before calling out.
"Bring the prisoner in"
Pitch walked in with his head held high as the yeti's tied his chains to the pins in the floor, making it impossible for him to move. Once the yeti's were finished and walked away, North bought attention back to them.
"Pitch Black, once General Kozmotis Pitchiner, you have been found guilty of bringing harm to the children of the world, to the leaders and their holidays. Lastly how you almost killed a defenceless child and bought about the death of Holly Leyton. How do you plead?"
Pitch glanced at Sandy, who nodded and turned back to North "Guilty"
"Very well. You are given chance to defend yourself and explain your actions. Sandy if you will?"
North sat down as Sandy created large shapes out of sand showing the general's downfall to the nightmares, to becoming Pitch and being locked under the bed not once but twice. Then he showed how Pitch was hit by cupid's arrow, and how he turned off the website for love. He then showed Pitch and Holly arguing and how he attacked Ben before the guardians arrived. He showed how Markowitz shot Pitch to get to Holly, before collapsing with extortion, puffs of sand coming from his ears as he panted. The leaders murmured among themselves not quite sure as to make of Sandy's tale, as Pitch helped Sandy back to his feet. North hit the gravel and everyone became silent.
"Thank you for your explanation Sandy. You are saying that because of Pitch's long isolations, made him do this, as both revenge and a cry for attention from both human and spirit alike?"
Sandy nodded and smiled up at Pitch, happy to have gotten Pitch's side of the story though.
"That doesn't change the fact that he almost ruined the holidays or almost destroyed us" said Tooth "He almost caused the children to lose all faith in us."
"Not to mention the fear he fed off of those poor ankle bitters in the workhouses" added Bunnymund, his arms firmly crossed. Sandy put a large X in the air as objection, and pointed to Pitch being chained under the bed losing strength was just the same as what he did to them. He then looked up at Pitch, showing an image of Pitch taking his robe off.
"You want to show them? What good would that do?" Pitch asked quietly as Sandy pushed back his robe showing all the scars that the nightmares had left. Everyone gasped looking at the deep gashes and scars that covered Pitch's chest. Sandy pointed the scars and then made a dream nightmare .
"Your Nightmares did that to you" said Jack looking slightly green at the scars.
"Nightmares and fearlings do not take defeat lightly Jack, You saw how big those fearlings were"
Jack nodded his head and flopped back in to his seat, looking at everyone else. Many seem not to care to much about the scars others seemed concerned. He looked a North, but the guardian of wonder's eyes were firmly on Pitch, who was rubbing Sandy's head gently as if he was comforting the golden spirit.
"We have big discussion to make, a choice. Sending you back to your cave and chaining you down there for the rest of time. Or placing you under house arrest with one of the guardians with very limited power. Because and I hate to admit it, you are needed in this world" said North.
Pitch nodded his head, grateful for the acknowledgment but was starting to tremble at the thought of returning back to the dark. Sandy took his hand and held it tightly as North turned to Tooth.
"Well Tooth what do you say?"
" After stealing all the teeth and my fairies, I can't go through that again, I can't risk that. None of us can. I say seal him away is our best option" said Tooth trying hard not to look at Sandy, who she felt she had betrayed with her choice.
"What say you Jack Frost?" turning his sights on the youngest guardian.
"Can you come back to me in a minute?"
"Jack..."
"Ok...ok. Before I became a guardian, I would have given anything to be noticed, believed in. I did some pretty stupid things in order to get noticed just about anyone and everyone. I can't imagine what it would be like to feel that feeling and be trapped in the dark as well. Surrounded by nightmares? I says we give him a chance"
There was a slight murmur among the leaders, and someone most likely the Groundhog said something about Jack being a soft touch. North tapped the gavel for silence and then turned to Aphrodite.
"Goddess of Love Aphrodite, what say you?"
"I have a question to Pitch if I may?" Pitch looked confused but nodded. "My son accidently hit you with a true loves arrow and you saw both Holly and Sandy at the same time. You went to kill Holly in order to kill your feelings for her, but you stopped. Why?"
"I looked at her fears and they were a reflection of my own. Also she said she believed in me. I couldn't hurt her after that." said Pitch his cheeks darkening, disliking talking about his feelings.
"So to make her happy you turned off the website?"
"No, it was to make sure she joined me for dinner along with Sandy. Making her happy came afterwards"
"So you loved her?"
Pitch hitched his breath, his throat tighten and his teeth gritted. He clenched his fists as his gold eyes began to sting, Aphrodite smile sadly.
"Love conquers all, even you Pitch. If you can love then you can also change. I move that he should be given a chance"
"And you Bunnymund? What do you say?"
"I say we can't risk it. I almost lost Easter and my powers over his last stunt. He almost in blind anger kill the kid that was in the hospital. He's to bigger threat to kids of the world to let him go free. Chain him up and throw away the key"
The leaders were openly talking now, Thanksgiving and Groundhog were grinning, North thought of Holly as a daughter and Pitch was semi responsible for her death. He was going down for his crimes. North sighed as he rested his head in his hands for a moment before looking back up at everyone.
"Did you know Pitch...that Holly's last dying thought was of you? or more precisely your fate?"
There was a shocked silence from everyone as North sat up straight as he continued. "Myself and Bunny went and spoke to the chief of police who spoke to the doctor that tried to save Holly. He told the chief and he in turn told us Holly's dying words. "North...don't send him back to darkness. Sandy needs him, don't send him back" is what she said"
Pitch did not bother to hid his black tears as they fell, as he dropped his head as his body shook with grief. Sandy's head was also bowed as he wept, silently thanking Holly with all his heart for her love and her wish.
"There are not many things I regret in this life but one of them is not adopting Holly when I should have. We loved of each other as father and child though we never truly said it to the other. I have let her down to many times. So I will not do so now. Since mine is the deciding vote and as leader of the guardians I suggest this. Special manacles will be made for you to wear to dampen your power and you will live under the watchful eye of Sandy. You will work for him and deliver your nightmares as well. But know this should you step so much as an inch out of line, back to the darkness you will go"
Pitch and the leaders were all shocked by North's choice that everyone just simple sat there, but then the Groundhog jumped to his feet.
"What the hell is this? Your letting him go? Letting him have a happy ending? This is bull! And what about your daughter North? She died because of him right? Shouldn't that count for something"
"Her dying wish is for him to be given a chance, so that is what we are doing" North said firmly glaring at the mammal for his outburst.
"Then you might as well give up on being a guardian then! You're going to fail protecting the children of the world just like you failed to protected your daughter from him"
Everyone cried out in outraged, North jumped to his feet his sword drawn, eyes blazing at the Groundhog. Both Bunny and Jack grabbed him around the waist trying to hold him back. Sandy was floating up to him, shaking his fists.
"Don't North! He's not worth it!" said Bunnymund holding tightly to North's coat.
Suddenly a bright beam of moonlight shone down right on the Groundhog who was now shaking with fear.
"I didn't...I meant to say..." he muttered but the beam became stronger, almost blinding, as the ground hog fell to his knees "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! "
The moon beam went back to being gently as it floated down to where Pitch was and started to glow around his wrists. Two large sliver manacles appeared on his arms as the chains that held him fell to the floor with a clang. The moonlight faded away but the large moon continued to look down at them. Rubbing his fists Pitch turned to Sandy who came floating back to him from where the Groundhog was now laying on the floor whimpering.
"Since my old friend has had the last word on the subject, I guess I'm free to leave with you Sandy, when you are ready. Unless you have any further business North?"
North had frozen when the light had hit the Groundhog, so his arms were still in the air with his swords, while both Bunny and Jack who looked just as shocked were hanging off him. North lowered his swords as Bunny and Jack let go both trying to act as if nothing unusual had just happened.
"No, no other business. Everyone is free to go"
"Thank you for this chance, I'll make sure you do not regret it " said Pitch as he took Sandy's hand but looked up at the Groundhog. "And I suggest rodent, that you get ready for a few nights of restless sleep. Shall we go Sandy?"
Sandy nodded brightly as he and Pitch left the room hand in hand. Jack let out a breath of air as he slumped back down in his chair.
"Well that went well"
Sarah Walker was a six year old girl, finally released from the isolation ward of the hospital, and now in a private room with a large widow. She had been in there all over Christmas and Easter and had missed all the snow that Jack Frost bought. Her parents had gone home hours ago, and had left her with her favourite thing in the world, the angel from the Christmas tree. This angel had a porcelain head and hands and wore along dress of gold and white. She had long golden hair with a green wreath. She looked at the angel and then out the window, where the moon was shining down brightly.
"Hey angel? If you can grant any Christmas wish, or any wish at all, can you make it snow? I love snow and I missed it this year. I wish, I wish"
Suddenly there was a faint sound of bells in the silent room, Sarah looked around and saw no one or anything that would cause the noise.
"Must have been hearing things" she muttered but as she looked out the window again she could help but gasp loudly as snow started to fall.
North sat in his workshop, craving an ice angel at his bench. He was chipping away at the wings when Bunnymund came in with a tray of hot chocolate and cookies.
"Here, thought you might want a snack" he said as he placed the tray near North. North put down his tools and smiled at Bunny, as he took the offered mug.
"Thank you Bunny. Have I been in here long?"
"You've been shut up in here since everyone went home North, it's late"
"I'm sorry. My mind is in such a mess, thoughts flying everywhere, doubts coming in"
"Your doubting your choice?" asked Bunny as he took a sip of his hot chocolate.
"A little, after hearing what the Groundhog said..."
"Now hold on a moment Nicholas. He's an arse and he was so out of order that even Manny told him off. Besides if Holly didn't even blame Pitch for his involvement in her death, there is no way she would hold you to blame for anything. She understood Mate, she did! She would not want revenge or you doubting yourself"
North smiled sadly as he pulled Bunny along the bench so he was now sitting in fount of North, as the older spirit rested his head on the Pooka's lap.
"I'm such an old fool. I should be comforting you and Jack not locking myself away here"
"Hey, you just lost your daughter Nicholas. A girl you have known all her life time, while me and Jack have known her only two weeks if best. I thought she was a great person and would have loved to have known her better. Jack feels like he's lost a sister all over again but Tooth is with him right now and she said she and Jack would take Holly's things to the police station for us. They just need to use the potion to make themselves a human disguise. Both me and Jack know that if anything happened to our humans you would be there for us"
North sat up and looked up at Bunnymund, rubbing his cheek. "Why did it take so long for me to realise how wonderful you are Aster?"
Bunny gave a light chuckle "I could ask the same Mate. Maybe we just couldn't look over the bickering or our egos. But now that I've got you I'm not about to let you go Mate and that's a promise"
Morning came to early for Jack as he looked thought the box's of Holly's things. He was surprised at Holly's "Santa" collection filled two of the boxes on their own, statutes, tree oddments, toys all in the shape of "Santa Claus". He decided to keep the one of the Santa's with his pants down as a laugh but mostly he wanted to keep Holly's leather jacket as it carried Holly's unique scent of peppermint and musk. Leaving the jacket and the ornament on the table, he sealed the boxes up when Tooth fluttered in with the two bracelets that North had made them last night. Jack smiled at her as she handed him his.
"You don't have to come with me Tooth, I'm sure I'll be fine"
"I know you would be Jack, but I want to go. I haven't been seen by a human adult since...well since my father died"
"Your father...?"
"Don't worry about it Jack, it was a long time ago" Tooth smiled sadly as she placed the bracelet on. Tooth became a purple blur for a moment before her appearance change to that of a young woman, with blonde her with green and purple ribbons tied in to it. She wore a green roll neck top with a denim jacket and long skirt to match, with dark blue shoes to match.
"You look beautiful Tooth" said Jack as he looked her over. Tooth looked around the room, semi frantic.
"Jack? Jack I can't see you" she said as she looked around. Jack quickly put on his bracelet, his white hair turned brown and his blue eyes back to brown. He was still in his blue top and brown trousers, but now there was a pair of tatty trainers on his feet. Tooth smiled at him when she was finally able to see him and hugged him tightly.
"You look like you do on your tooth box" she said brushing down the brown locks.
"Thanks, you look beautiful by the way. Ready to go?" said Jack as he picked up two boxes. Tooth placed the second snow globe in her pocket and said the address of the police station to the other as she dropped it to the ground. As the vortex opened, she picked up the other box and suitcase and followed Jack thought. They appeared in an empty corridor of the station, hearing shouts and ringing phone ahead of them. A young man with thick glasses turned the corner and almost walked in to them.
"Oh, sorry! Um..do you mind if I ask what you're doing back here? This area is for police staff only"
"We're sorry" said Tooth "We're friends of North"
"North? Sorry no one here called that"
"No, what she means is that we're friends of North, the guy that was looking after Holly Layton's things" explained Jack as he put down the boxes. "These contain her "Santa" collection"
The man had flinched at Holly's name and seemed to tear up a little "Damn, sorry. The Chief said someone was bring her stuff by for us to go through but..."
"Are you ok?" asked Tooth placing her hand on the man's shoulder.
"Yeah...it's just...we were friends you know, not really good ones but...it's just hard to believe that she's gone. Well let's get these boxes in to the main office"
He took one of the larger one's from Jack and the small one from Tooth as he took them to the main office floor, that had several desks all covered with papers, sticky notes, take out wrappers and maps. There was one desk that was cleared save for a vase of flowers that sat upon it.
"Let's put them here. This was Holly's desk, the guys will know where to look then. Did you guys take any of the Santa's?"
"I took one of the tree ones" said Jack
"I didn't really know here that well, I didn't think it was right to take one" said Tooth. "It seems awfully quite here"
"Yeah, some of the guys have been roped in to clear all that snow that's fallen around that private hospital" said the officer as he opened the boxes.
"Snow?" said Tooth and Jack together.
"Yeah, weirdest thing. It snowed right, but just on the hospital. Then we get another call from the same hospital saying a load of dogs had broken in to it and they were running around the children's ward. Just random odd things. Ha, maybe it's the ghost of Holly causing trouble"
Neither Jack or Tooth found that funny, as they both frowned in concern for the children, and while the man's back was turned they took off they bracelets. Now invisible to adults and non believers, Jack turned to Tooth.
"Do you think he's right? about Holly I mean"
"I doubt it Jack, you were a special case as you were a child when you died saving your sister. Holly was murdered."
"So it's not her?"
"I don't think so. In any case I think we should check it out. If there is a spirit of some kind there, we need to speak to it, before it causes to much harm" said Tooth as she and Jack took off to the hospital.
The hospital was now surrounded by thick snow, with only the entrance clear of it. There were a huge crowd of people trying to drag dogs of various sizes away.
"Wow, who ever this spirit is, they really go all out" laughed Jack
"This isn't funny Jack" scolded Tooth looking at the young guardian. "People come here to get better, and seek help. This spirit is putting them in danger of that."
"Sorry. Look I'll look for the sprite like this, why don't you put your bracelet back on, and see if talking to the kids gives us any ideas on who we're looking for"
"ME? Why me? Would you be better? You have more in common with kids then I do and I..."
"Tooth, you need the practice. Just remember not to mention blood and gums" laughed Jack as he went to the roof to start looking. Tooth nervously floated in to the hospital and found a quiet corner to put the bracelet back on. Now in her human shape she patted down her skirt.
"I can do this! I can do this" she said to herself as she started to follow the signs for the children's ward. As she turned the corner she walked in to a large doctor.
"Oh, so sorry" she said as she went to keep walking only to have him grab her arms tightly.
"And where do you think you are going?" asked the Doctor in a sarcastic voice.
"I was going to see the children..."
"Why would they want to see a freak like you, Toothiana" he snarled pulling her closer.
"How do you know me? This is only the second time I've been in this foam"
"I would know you no matter what your foam, you monster. And as to how I know you, let's say we have a history"
Tooth looked at the hairy face and felt her blood turn cold as those cruel eyes bore in to her, as they did hundreds of years ago. Her eyes widened as far as they could as she shook her head in denial.
"It can't be you. You disappeared with your army in the jungle"
"Let's say me and a certain nightmare king made a deal. Now that I've got you, I'm going to enjoy taking you apart!"
Tooth began to struggle and call for help, as the doctor tried to cover her mouth and hold her back at the same time. The snow globe in Tooth's pocket rolled out on to the floor, where the doctor lost his footing on it, and snapped Tooth's bracelet off. Now with her wings back, Tooth took off like a shot flying as fast as she could to the upper levels looking for Jack.
"JACK? JACK?" she shouted as she flew from room to room.
"Tooth? What is it? Did you find..."
"No time Jack! We need to get out of here, before he gets us both! We're going to need help!" said Tooth as she grabbed Jack's arm and started to fly out the window.
"Tooth! Tooth calm down! What's going on"
"He's back Jack! He's Back!"
The Groundhog was taking a stroll though the gardens of the park that afternoon, wearing thick black glasses on his snout. After upsetting the man on the moon, and just about everyone else including his best friend Thanksgiving, he had round his eye sight was now really sensitive. After some refection, he felt awful for what he had said to North about his human. He was angry that Pitch had, in his mind, gotten a light sentence and was free to still deliver nightmares. Not really paying attention, he walked in to somebody and fell backwards.
"Ouch!" he cried as he hit the floor. A warm and gentle hand helped him up.
"I'm sorry, are you alright?"said a soft voice
"Of course I'm not alright!" he snapped "Pitch has been let lose again, I didn't sleep a wink last night thinking about it. Everyone is mad at me because I opened my stupid mouth and said something horrible. Even the Man in the moon was mad at me, so he damaged my eyes. I wish to see again, I can't take walking around in the dark"
"If you really wish for your sight, I can do it for you" said the soft voice as the warm hand was placed over this eyes. There was a slight flash and all the stinging pain in his eyes vanished.
"There, that's better. How do you feel right now?""
"Better thank you" said the Groundhog as he took off his glasses and promptly dropped them. The soft voice belong to a young woman, with pale skin, green eyes and brown hair, that had a green wreath mixed it. She wore a white, spaghetti strap dress with a bodice that flared out around her long legs in white high heels. On her back was a small pair of snowy white wings, and on her wrist was a armlet of bells.
"YOU! Your howisit?" exclaimed the groundhog pointing at the angel.
"No, my name is Holly...the moon told me my name"
"No your name has always been Holly! Wait till North sees your alive"
"Who?"
"North, your father. You know, the guardians? Bunnymund? Tooth Fairy? Sandy? Jack Frost?"
"I'm really sorry, sir, but I don't know who you are on about. I only woke up yesterday and only starting to get my bearings. If you'll excuse me, I have a child waiting on these flowers" said Holly as she took to the air, leaving a stunned and bewildered Groundhog behind.
The doctor slammed in to his office and slammed the door shut, locking it and breaking the handle. He picked up the phone and punched in the numbers and waited for an answer.
"It's me! Stop everything! Gather as many of our people you can find and kit them out with any armour you can get your hands upon! We're going after the Tooth fairy now! Yes I'm aware we don't know her location! But that is no longer a matter" he laughed holding up the snow globe in his hand.
To be continued...
If you want me to continue please review...