Chapter 2
THIRD PERSON
CENTURIES LATER
EASTER SUNDAY
A beautiful melody of a flute whistled throughout the forest. The tune wafted through the trees, waking up the animals that were in slumber. Birds whistled back, forth the melody was too beautiful to be true. Squirrels, chipmunks, bunnies all followed the tune.
Well, if you too, follow the melody that wafted through the forest, you'll see her. Leaning against a magnificent oak tree, flute in her hand. Her beautiful honey colored hair fluttered in the wind, her ears flat on her sides, showing she was relaxed. Her paws moved swiftly through the instrument's holes, giving a new tune with every blow of her breath.
After the composition that she had made, she slumped down on the tree's roots. The old scraggly wood caressed her lovingly. Bringing out her pen and notebook, she paned her jade green snake eyes around and looked at the environment around her. Luscious green trees, birds that sang softly, the warm spring sunshine shining down. Opening her notebook, she whispered these 3 magical words that children would love to hear at the beginning of every story…
"Once upon a time…"
Green sparkles erupted from the page, giving her enough space to compose a new draft for a new story to give. Looking for inspiration, she tapped her furry chin and looked around her.
She jotted down intricate details, her mind was buzzing about a new story to give to a new kid. In minutes, or probably seconds, her paw was swiftly brushing through the page, giving beautiful sketches to a new story, adding scenes and dialogues.
When she wrote the last 2 words of the book, she closed her eyes and whispered these 2 words that would disappoint children, but would inspire them to read another tale…
"The End…"
Green sparkles, once again, erupted from the notebook of hers. The pages that contained the story she just created disconnected and floated in front of her. Vines intertwined as a spine, and a violet hard bound cover spread as a protection. Once the transformation was finished, the new book slowly floated into her paws. She looked at the title and smiled at her new creation.
"Three Musketeers"
She tucked the book under her arm and stood up on her hind legs, stretching. She yawned; she stayed up late at night, making new stories to spread to the children. After much traveling, from Europe to Asia, she ended up in Burgess, Pennsylvania.
Funny, the snow was very unusual here. It was springtime, for sure, but snow still covered the ground. And it was awfully chilly. She didn't like the cold that much. So she tried her best to keep herself as warm as she could get. Underneath her was The Land of Fantasy. Or so to call it, her burrow. That was the place where she kept the stories that she had created. The place was ought to be a myth, a place tucked in high in the sky. They were wrong, it was underground.
She stood up and faced the giant mass of wood before her. She can use anything to get into her realm, whether it was a river or a boulder, this time, it was a tree. Closing her eyes, she whispered the magical words to open the gates of her realm.
"And she lived happily ever after"
The Oak Wood slowly split in half, the vines intertwining downwards to create a long winding staircase, she hopped downward and she was swallowed whole by her tree, she could feel and hear the mass of wood closing, leaving no trace of her.
After a few moments of hopping down the stairs, she reached her burrow. Lush greenery was everywhere, flowers, trees and such. A crystal clear river was there, strong and shallow. On one side was her cottage, next to the cottage was a wall covered in vines.
She hopped over to the said vines, and pushed them apart. There was a secret hole, very large but was concealed by the vines. And inside was another part of her burrow, both split apart by a stone wall. And that part was consisted of bookshelves.
Rows and rows of bookshelves.
Millions of books were consisted in this room. Stories about old fables, tales, fairytales, myths, facts, records, basically anything about the world.
And she knew about the Guardians, too.
She knew about the Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman, the Easter Bunny, and Jack Frost.
When she learned that Pitch had threatened to eliminate the children's beliefs in the Guardians, she started to write like crazy. Making stories and books about them and leaving the books by the kids' bedside or mailbox. She tried to help Jack Frost in gaining believers, but that's how he was just learned to just be an expression. Oh well, she tried.
About her? Well, nobody knew her name. Nobody knew she even existed. But she was the responsible for the mysterious books that magically appear on your bedside. She was the one who relives the well loved fairytales in your mind.
When she saw the Easter Bunny, she'd been pulling her own fur to meet him. She was jumping in joy that she had a fellow Pooka that had survived! She wasn't alone! But second thoughts just busted in her head, and thought not to. Maybe she'd had to surpass the feeling of anyone not seeing her again. She didn't want to get hurt again. Nobody knew she existed.
Nobody knew she even existed.
The words still stung her heart. Every time those words kept on replaying in her head, she'd wince and fight back tears. But she was okay with that. She was okay with being alone, as long as she saw the happy faces of the children when they read her stories. She was okay if she barely had anyone to talk to, spirit or mortal.
Sighing, she entered the bookshelf room. She grabbed a few books from a couple of shelves. She was deciding on what to pick to give out to children.
"Hm… let's see. Sleeping Beauty, Wizard of Oz, Puss in Boots…" she mumbled, shrugging, she took all 3 of them
Tucking maybe 15 books under her arm, she hopped away and forwards her grand Oak staircase, upwards.
"I should get a bag…" She winced as she heaved the large amount of books under her arm
Whispering the words once again, the Oak opened up. The sunlight shined in her eyes and she hopped out. Once she did, the Oak tree returned to its normal position.
Ah, early spring, her favorite time of the year. Flowers bloomed, animals wandered, plants sprouted. It was indeed magical.
Landing on the grass, she tapped her chin. Which house first…?
After getting on all fours, she raced into the forest, careful to not be seen by any of the egg hunters. There were a few egg hunts near her, in which she tried to avoid. Even though she knew no one would see her.
She saw the rows of houses nearby. She looked around and saw that it was early, and luckily, no one was around yet.
Hopping once more, she continued her rounds.
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Finally. She thought. She was down to the last 2 books.
Her rounds were comprehensive, whether she hid the things on the children's bedsides, or in their backpacks, anywhere! The last 2 books belonged to siblings named Jamie Bennett and Sophia Bennett. The 2 were adorable, yes. She'd given the 2 books once, and it's obvious that the 2 loved the gifts she had given. She saw Jamie reading to her sister once, which touched her heart. And Sophie was fond of rabbits, she knew.
She spotted their old suburban house nearby, and careful to be hidden, she hid in the bushes and trees. Once she was near enough, she snuck at the back of their house.
She pondered on what book she should give, and where she would put the things. Hm, the 2 siblings where very good at finding things. She tried to hide the book in their kitchen once and the little girl still found it.
She was thinking on putting the books in their backpacks when-
"Hello!"
She gasped and jumped a bit. She turned to her side to see Sophie, standing beside her, smiling brightly while still holding a half full Easter basket.
She couldn't comprehend what the girl had said. She looked around her to see if anyone was near, probably why the little girl had said hello. No one was near. Can she see her?
She crouched up to the girl's level. Still in shock, she stuttered out the words. "C-C-Can you see me?"
Sophie nodded excitedly.
A child… could see her! Oh how the joy she had felt. She just wanted to jump around in happiness, or better yet, hug the little girl and join her in too. With a trembling paw, she held it out to Sophie, who clasped her little hands around the giant paw of hers.
She stilled. It's been a long time she felt a human touch. How warm she felt, how happy she's been.
Sophie giggled. "You look just like Bunny!" Sophie jumped up and down.
She smiled, "Whoa, little fella. Here, I've got something for-"
"Hey Sophie! Where are you?" a voice said from around the corner of the house, she heard a few footsteps and came into her view was Jamie Bennett himself. The young boy's eyes widened at the sight of her. So did the shocked Pooka who just touched a real human being for the first time in decades.
"Whoa…" Jamie said, stepping further, until he was right in front of her
"C-Can you also see me?" She asked, warily.
The boy nodded up and down.
2 children can see her! The day is getting better and better! She could feel a grin forming on her snout.
"They can see me…" she whispered to herself
"She looks like Bunny!" Sophie pointed out to her brother
"Are you an immortal too…?" Jamie asked
"Yep…" she nodded
"What's your name?" Jamie smiled
"Oh, I can't tell you my REAL name." Actually, she can. She doesn't want to. Trust wasn't exactly her main dish. "But you can call me Addie." She winked
"Oh, hi Addie! I'm Jamie!" Jamie smiled wider. "And she's my sister, Sophie."
"Bunny, hop hop hop!" Sophie giggled
"Sorry, she likes bunnies." Jamie says. He eyes the books in her paws. "Are you the one who leaves the books for us?"
"Yep!" she nodded.
"Whoa, cool! We love your stories!" Jamie said, his sister just nodded excitedly
"Which reminds me…" she handed the 2 their books
"Oh I love 'The Three Musketeers'!" Jamie hugs the story book. "Thank you!"
Sophie looks at her book, giggles, runs up to Addie and hugs her torso. "Thank you thank you thank you!"
She stilled, feeling the little girl's arms wrap around her waist. She felt warm and happy. After a moment, she reconsiders, but she hugs back. "You're welcome kiddo."
"Ooh wait till I tell Bunny about you! You'll like him!" Jamie begins to run off
Her jade green eyes widen, and she stumbles to chase after him. She DID NOT WANT anyone to know about her, not now. She's waiting for the right time. "Kid, wait, wait, wait!" Jamie stops at her words
"Why? What's wrong?" Jamie asks
"It's just that… Could you please not tell anyone about me? Anyone?" She asks, running a paw through her ears
"Why so?" Jamie asks, confused
"It's just that… it's personal. Okay?" She crouches to his level. "You MUST NOT tell anyone about me, okay?"
"Um…"
"Promise?" she puts her paws on his shoulders
Jamie smiles at her. "Promise."
She smiles in relief. She tousles his brown shaggy hair. "Hey!" Jamie laughs
"I'll see you kids soon, goodbye." She smiles and pats Sophie on the head, the little kid frowns and pouts ever so childish.
"Aaw. Addie is going to leave?" Sophie pouts. She laughs as she pats the kid on the head.
"Addie will come back soon, okay?"
"Goodbye! And thanks for the book!" Jamie waves
"Don't mention it, oh and kid?" Jamie looks at her. "Keep your promise, okay?"
Jamie nods.
After that, she runs off.
But deep inside, she wanted to meet that 'Bunny' so badly.
If only she wasn't a coward.
Once she reached her Oak Tree, tears started to form puddles in her eyes.
She felt like she let down her first believers again by leaving.
